What the Sunday papers said

The Sunday Times

• Industry figures who have dominated the corporate landscape for the past 20 years - including Sir Brian Stewart of Scottish & Newcastle - are retiring or making way for younger blood.

But, according to columnist John Waples, the next generation of giants have a much tougher time ahead of them, due to the excessive amounts of red tape - "a repressive corporate regime that is getting tougher by the month".

British restaurants have vastly improved over the past decade, according to Lonely Planet author David Else.But although he admits the traditional British dish of boiled beef and overcooked carrots is a thing of the past he recommends pubgoers avoid the "Thai seafood curry special" and instead choose steak and chips.

Our licensing laws, according to Mr Else, "bemuse" tourists.

Job prospects have weakened, creating fears of a confidence-destroying rise in unemployment, says a Manpower survey. It shows the service sector is particularly downbeat about taking on staff.

The Sunday Telegraph​

• Does he know something we don't? Luke Johnson, chairman of Signature Restaurants, which owns the Belgo Belgian bar chain, seems to keeping on the right side of receivers in a column for the paper.

"Receivers are often portrayed as heartless monsters," he writes, "but...they tend to try to preserve jobs and see something survive if they can."

He concludes with a grim prediction: "The insolvency experts are flat out, reviving the injured and giving the fatally wounded their last rites. I fear things will get more bloody before their work slackens."

Thistle hotels is in talks with seven potential bidders, including Realstar Group from Canada and Apax Partners in an attempt to trump BIL International's hostile takeover bid.

The Business​

• Private equity group BC Partners will say this week it is willing to take part in an auction for Six Continent's pubs division. The announcement is expected to be made today to the London Stock Exchange.

One in five UK businesses is planning to sack staff as a result of next month's £8bn rise in National Insurance contributions, according to the British Chamber of Commerce.

The Independent on Sunday​

• Bacardi is talking to investment banks about a possible £5bn flotation.

The owner of Bacardi rum, Bombay Sapphire gin and Martini is understood to have drawn up a list of investment banks to advise it on a flotation. Those in the running include Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse First Boston and Merrill Lynch.

Top businesses in the UK will have to pay £3.2bn a year into pension funds to contain the mounting crisis that has created a black hole of £91bn, a report from investment bank HSBC claims.

The Mail on Sunday​

• Laurel Pub Company is planning a £3bn bid for Six Continent's pubs, including the All Bar One chain. Click here for more details​

Scotland on Sunday​

• Tourism chiefs in Scotland are fed up with constant jibes about rainy Scottish weather and have decided to take action.

In an attempt to persuade more Scots to choose Scotland for their summer holidays instead of Spain or Italy, VisitScotland is to sponsor the twice-daily weather bulletins on Scottish and Grampian Television.

VisitScotland is hoping the 15-second clips will remind viewers of all the activities Scotland can offer, even when it is blowing a gale outside.