Pubs Minister John Healey has stressed he is keen to hear views from all sides of the trade to help pull together a support package for pubs.
Healey did not attend a behind-closed doors meeting with all factions of the pub trade yesterday due to a long standing commitment in Bristol.
The meeting was conducted under Chatham House Rules, meaning the discussions that took place inside can not be revealed, but issues such as rate relief and duty hikes were discussed.
It is understood that Enterprise chief operating officer Simon Townsend and Punch tenanted managing director Roger Whiteside both attended the meeting along with British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds.
Fair Pint member Steve Corbett and Kate Nicholls of the Independent Pub Confederation also attended the meet.
A spokesperson for Communities and Local Government said: "John Healey was unable to attend as he had a longstanding commitment to give an important speech in Bristol on tenants' rights and then visit the headquarters of the new Infrastructure Planning Commission.
"But he has made clear that as part of his work pulling together a support package for pubs he is keen to hear views from as many people as possible.
That is why his officials will give him a thorough briefing on issues raised at the meeting."
The meeting came just a day before the publication of the revised Business and Innovation Skills Committee report into pubco power. The report will be published at 430pm today.
• The Morning Advertiser will bring you all the news and reaction from the report tomorrow. If you are not already signed up to our news alert service click here.