What the Sunday papers said

Gordon Brown is to call for the sacking of Culture Minister James Purnell following revelations that Mr Purnell briefed a journalist alleging the Chancellor was plotting to oust Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr Purnell, a Blairite who oversaw the controversial implementation of the new licensing regime, denied being the source of a story which appeared in the Guardian newspaper. - Mail On Sunday​

Robert Tchenguiz's R20 investment vehicle is expected to lodge a bid for bar group Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) of between 550p and 550p in the next 10 days, according to a well-placed source. It is also understood that M&B has asked the Takeover Panel to impose a deadline of April 24 on Mr Tchenguiz. - Sunday Telegraph​

Tim Clarke, chief executive of M&B has asked the Takeover Panel to impose an April 24 deadline on Robert Tchenguiz to make a formal offer for the group. Sources close to Mr Tchenguiz said it was unclear whether the property tycoon would be able to assemble his financing before then. The panel is expected to announce this week whether it has agreed to M&B's request. - Sunday Times​

M&B's defence against a bid from Robert Tchenguiz has been bolstered by a £5bn valuation of the bar group's assets. City analysts KBC Peel Hunt believe the new figure - up from the £3.5bn figure shown in M&B's last annual report - gives management scope to make "substantial paybacks" to shareholders while retaining the firepower to acquire Whitbread's out-of-town restaurants. The market was also "badly underestimating" the strength of institutional support for M&B's current management, the broker said. - Independent On Sunday​

Shares in Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries have had a strong run in recent months but on a price to earnings ratio (PER) of 14 times they are still cheap compared with the sector average PER of 17 times. W&DB value its freehold properties - 90 per cent of its portfolio - at £1.2bn and the brewer could place these into a separately-quoted vehicle and use the money raised from selling shares in the new entity to buy back its own shares. - Sunday Telegraph​

Vijay Mallya, chairman of India's United Breweries - purveyor of Kingfisher lager, has extended the brand into the world of aviation by launching his own airline, Kingfisher Airlines. Mr Mallya has been accused by rivals of using his political connections - he has a seat in the upper house of the Indian parliament - to gain concessions at the country's chronically overcrowed passenger terminals, a charge he refutes. - Sunday Times​

And finally...

Diners in a trendy Manhattan eatery were appalled to see film star Gwyneth Paltrow knock back a bottle of Guinness with her husband, rock star Chris Martin. Ms Paltrow, who is seven months pregnant, admitted drinking the Black Stuff, but denied claims she'd eaten raw fish, said to be harmful to unborn babies. - Mail On Sunday​

And finally Part 2...

What is believed to be the world's first beer spa has opened in the Czech Republic. Chodovar Brewery is offering seven different beer baths for guests to swim in, plus beer massages and beer cosmetics. - Mail On Sunday​