AN ESTATE agency is moving down the High Street to have the best estate agency windows in Winchester.
Retailer Joules permanently closed its Winchester branch at 51 High Street on September 24.
The company, founded by Tom Joule in 1989, has since failed to secure emergency investment and with sales falling below average the British Clothing brand has been forced to appoint administrators, risking 1600 jobs UK-wide.
READ MORE: Winchester clothes shop Joules closes High Street store
But Hampton Estate Agents in Winchester has seized the opportunity to move into a more high-profile spot, with the corner position allowing large windows on both St Thomas Street and the High Street.
The housing lettings and sales business has been based further up the High Street at number 72, near the traffic light crossing on Southgate Street, for around 30 years.
Hamptons’ Winchester manager, Gareth Anwyl, said: “We’ve run a successful business from this location for a long time. We felt there was an opportunity with the new premises. They’re the best windows in Winchester for an estate agent and that was the attraction.
“We are investing in making it quite smart, it was obviously a retail block fit before so we’re hoping to be open in the early part of the new year. Nothing is cheap but we think it will be worthwhile.
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“We’re the only agents who will be on the pedestrian part of the High Street. It’s one thing that will enable us to offer future clients the best platform to promote their properties because they genuinely are the best estate agency windows in Winchester.”
Other estate agency competitors placed around Winchester city centre include Dybles, Winkworth, Pearsons and Austin & Wyatt Lettings Agency all in Southgate Street as well as Savills, Charters and Northwood, Strutt & Parker, Goadsby and Carter Jonas in Jewry Street and Belgarum opposite Hamptons’ current base in the High Street.
Hamptons Winchester is hoping to move into the former Joules unit in January or February but is currently unsure of delivery time frames for things like furniture.
The estate agency will be open as usual during the transition.
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