What the Sunday papers said

The Observer

• Irish multi-millionaire and Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond, who also has a large stake in Manchester United, is to launch a legal challenge to Sky's £1 billion-plus deal agreed last Friday. Desmond believes the agreement is illegal under EU and British competition law. Click here to read more on thePublican.com.

The Savoy hotel in London's Strand is planning to add 90 rooms.

The Sunday Telegraph​

• Brighton could be the first city in Britain to ban smoking in public places including pubs, restaurants and shopping centres. Click here to read more on thePublican.com.

The Mail on Sunday​

• Scottish & Newcastle has launched an investigation into its own pubs after a crackdown by the Premier League into illegal broadcasting of football matches.

Troubled pubs group Eldridge Pope is to hold talks with entrepreneur Michael Cannon after his decision to bid for a 29.9 per cent stake in the business. Click here to read more on thePublican.com.

The Sunday Times​

• The Reuben brothers have moved ahead of the pack in the bidding for Scottish & Newcastle, the £2.3bn up-for-sale pubs business, according to The Sunday Times. Click here to read more on thePublican.com.

A casino worker has agreed a five-figure out-of-court settlement with his employer over claims that he developed asthma from passive smoking. Click here to read more on thePublican.com.

Executives at Paris's Crazy Horse, which made its name for "tasteful" striptease, have been touring venues in Britain and will bring the club's sequinned offering to London.

The Independent on Sunday​

• In agreeing an exclusive TV rights deal with Sky to 2007, the Premier League runs the risk of having the whole process ripped apart by Mario Monti, the European Competition Commission.

Pubs were expected to sell an extra three million pints of bitter and lager this weekend. "The more the sun shines, the bigger the smile on the faces of the nation's landlords," said the British Beer And Pub Association.

On the stock market last week, a whole host of pub and drinks companies saw their shares rise along with the mercury as people flocked to pubs and bars.

European brewing giants are set to battle it out for the Muslim pound and about to launch an advertising onslaught across the Middle East and Asia in a bid to woo drinkers and establish brand loyalty. All brews will be non-alcoholic.

The Sunday Express​

• Millions of British tourists are staying home for their summer holiday and making the most of the heatwave currently engulfing the UK.

Figures released today are expected to show Britain's consumer boom is far from slowing. The British Retail Consortium will reveal that consumers spent more this July than they did in the same month in 2002. The hot weather encouraged shoppers to splash out on clothing, food and drink.

The Business​

• WestLB is set to sell its 30 per cent stake in Whyte & Mackay, the Scottish spirits group formerly known as Kyndal.

Beck's is having to ration deliveries of beer in Germany because of a dearth of bottles caused by the summer heatwave.