A HAMPSHIRE butchers has shut one of its branches, months after its neighbouring cafe went out of business.

Award-winning Owtons Butchers, which has stores across the county, has confirmed that its Kimbridge branch has now closed.

The branch moved from the centre of Romsey several years ago, and has other stores in West End, Andover, Bordon and Titchfield.

It has served the Test Valley and wider Hampshire since it was founded in 1976 by Rob and Gill Owton.

The family have been farming on Chalcroft Farm for more than 400 years.

The closure of the family-run butchers' branch comes just two months after neighbouring cafe Annie's Kitchen and Tea Room was put into liquidation.

Billy Owton said: "It is sad news for all, we just couldn't get the store going.

"I think we have the right formula but just not in the right location.

"We knew about 18 months ago that things weren't going our way and we tried everything we could; leaflets around Romsey, the Romsey show and offers.

"We just couldn't get town residents to travel the extra distance."

As previously reported, Annie's Kitchen and Tea Room has been put into liquidation after staff were informed of its sudden closure on social media in November.

Billy said that there was 'no doubt' that the closure had a detrimental impact on business.

He added: "Of course it played a massive part in our having to close, there's no doubt.

"We couldn't put anything on the main road to tell people where we were, and perhaps that was the same as Annie's. We had a great store, a fantastic business, but just not the right spot.

"We will still be supplying surrounding pubs, such as the Cromwell Arms, and our other stores are going strong, we recently opened a store at Rosebourne near Andover."

The butchers has won a host of awards in the last few years, including the best lamb and beef sausage at Hampshire Fare in February last year.

A member of staff at the butchers said: "It's a sad time, very sad for everybody involved.

"We have a sale on at the moment to try and sell some of our remaining produce."

The Kimbridge store had a farm shop and a restaurant set off Kimbridge Lane and sold local produce and wines.

Customers and residents have taken to social media to express their sadness at the news of the closure.