What the Sunday papers said

Things are becoming a little complicated in the UK pub sector, with property magnate Robert Tchenguiz said to be buying up shares in Mitchells & Butlers, which recently rejected his 550p a share bid. Meanwhile M&B's own expansion plans may be under threat, with Punch Taverns said to be in the running for Whitbread's 200-pluis pubs - Independent On Sunday​

French buyout firm PAI Partners is believed to be in the advanced stages of launching a bid for struggling soft drinks group Britvic, which last week announced its third profits warning in as many months. Sources said PAI is to approach Britvic within weeks with a view to making a bid, however shares in Britvic could rise on the interest in the company, making an approach harder to succeed. - Sunday Times​

The rapid growth of land being used for wine-making in England is prompting increasing numbers of foreign winemakers to look towards the country for investment opportunities. According to the English Wine Producers Association, the amount of land used for viticulture will increase by 1,000 acres by 2010, accelerating growth that has already seen a 10 per cent rise since 2000. The success of English sparkling wines and the wine region's mild weather has attracted interest from vintners from France to California. - Sunday Telegraph​

The wettest May on record is expected to wash away hopes of High Street recovery. Lacklustre quarterly trading figures are expected to show retail sales down as much as five per cent. - Sunday Express​

David Cameron's links with the liquor trade could land him in trouble. The Tory leader could not resist giving his brother-in-law's company Whyte and Mackay a plug when he appeared on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs today (Sunday). Asked what luxury item he would take with him, Mr Cameron said a case of Isle Of Jura whisky, which is made in the west coast of Scotland distillery jointly owned by his brother-in-law Vivian Imerman and property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz. - Mail On Sunday​