BarTalk

What do you think of the proposed Punch-Mitchells & Butlers merger?

Graham Rowson Plungington Tavern Preston Lancashire

I don't think this merger will be good news for many rival pub companies, particularly in the managed-house sector. The new company would be a huge one with even bigger purchasing power, which will put a lot of pressure on other operators. How big are these pub companies going to get? There must be a case for some sort of monopolies intervention.

Ian Riggs The Taps Lytham Lancashire

It's going to create a massive company with market domination in some towns, unless it sheds a lot of pubs in certain areas. I hope the authorities watch closely and judge whether it is going to damage trade. The Beer Orders inquiry 20 years ago put a ceiling on brewers owning pubs above a certain number but controls seem to have gone out of the window now.

Mike Fallon Theatre Bar Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria

Obviously, this deal is short of a lot of detail, but even at this stage it looks pretty frightening. They will be able to extract even bigger discounts from the brewers and sell cheaper beer in many more pubs, which is not good for independent licensees. Fortunately, I don't think it will affect us in Barrow too much, but other people may not be so lucky.

Adrian Clay Raikes Hall Blackpool Lancashire

Two words beginning with "m" spring to mind - monopoly and monster. This company would have a massive share of the market. I think it would work out to about 10,500 pubs accounting for 17% of the UK pub stock. Surely someone has got to ask how big a company can get before we are faced with a monopoly issue. The power of a big group like this will be phenomenal.