The owners of the Hunter's estate agency group have made a permanent move out of Wotton-under-Edge.

Parent company The Offer's Group, which owns the former Besley Hill and active Hunters estate agency brands in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, took over the Long Street premises 11 years ago.

After changing to a Hunter's outlet when Besley Hill was taken over by Hunter's in 2017, the shop was refitted in 2022 under Offer's direct management.

But in June the shop closed and directed walk-in customers to another branch, while the premises are now empty and advertised to let.

The shop at 32 Long Street, is part of a dual-let building with flats above. Immediately next door, the premises of AC Partners butchers at number 34 has also been the focus of retail concern for the town when it closed down after 40 years' trading in October.

Owner Matt Garrad said: "Due to lack of high street trade and in the new climate of ever increasing costs and overheads, regrettably it is no longer possible to continue."

However, Joshua Offer, director of The Offer's Group, told Punchline that the Wotton closure had not been due to local trading issues.

Mr Offer said: "Our main business is buying and building companies within the UK services space."

The group has recently acquired The Letting Shop, an additional property management portfolio and, he added, had two more acquisitions "in the pipeline for 2023".

"Because Offer's Group is a Developer and Land business as well as a property sales business, we've taken the decision to consolidate the sales business into our Head Office in Bristol," he said.

"The sales office in Wotton under Edge was profitable and fun to work in – I've been involved in it on and off for 11 years and had a great time – but unfortunately, the other parts of our business are growing at a pace where we need everyone in the same area."

The Wotton-under-Edge closure leaves two estate agencies in the town, Milburys and David James.