Winkworth expands into Dorset with latest acquisition

Winkworth has expanded further in Dorset with the acquisition of Christopher Batten in Wimborne – its seventh office in the county. 

Christopher Batten, long established in the market town, has been acquired by existing Winkworth franchisees James Hadley-Clift and his business partner Lori Leon, who took over the Winkworth Southbourne office in 2020. 

Founder Christopher Batten and his team will be staying with the business. 

In a first for Winkworth, the office will remain with Christopher Batten over the door to reflect the reputation of the business in Wimborne. 

Hadley-Clift, who has more than 15 years’ experience as an agent in the county, said: “Lori and I are delighted to have acquired Christopher Batten and are thrilled that Chris and his team will continue to offer the highest standards of service to customers – which reflects the values and ethos of Winkworth.   We will now be able to harness the power of the network to benefit our customers in Wimborne, across sales and lettings.” 

Winkworth Franchising has a family connection with the area through its founder, Simon Agace, who attended Canford School.  The acquisition of Wimborne cements the network’s presence in South-east Dorset, with two offices in Bournemouth, plus offices in Poole, Ferndown and now Wimborne. On the South coast of Dorset, there are Winkworth offices in Highcliffe and Mudeford. 

Dominic Agace, chief executive of Winkworth, said: “The acquisition of Wimborne is another example of how successful franchisees such as James and Lori are encouraged to expand their businesses as part of the Winkworth network. 

“As we have shown with Wimborne, we are also happy to work in partnership with agency proprietors who would like to enjoy some of the value of the business they have created, while continuing to work there. This provides the best of both worlds, with additional resources to operate across a wider local and national network. We now have a substantial presence in Dorset as part of our network, providing a vital link for our London, Surrey and Hampshire offices for those looking to relocate to the South-west.” 

He added: “We are continuing our expansion and would like to hear from property professionals who want to own their own business, with the support of Winkworth Franchising and our nationwide network.”