The owner of a High Wycombe golf shop, which is closing its doors for the last time next month, has blamed his departure on Brexit and a lack of investment in the town centre.

John Strode, who owns Yes Please Golf, has made the “gut wrenching” decision to close his store in Frogmoor, claiming High Wycombe has not been “the dream” he was sold.

The Oxford resident criticised the Chilterns Shopping Centre for not investing in new businesses, and said the town is “not moving forward” or “showing signs of improvement”.

Mr Strode added that wholesale prices have shot up since Brexit which, teamed up with high business rates and the increasing popularity of online retailers, makes it difficult to create a profit.

He said: “It is a huge disappointment to be closing a very large investment but obviously that area is not he dream that I was sold. I was told that the town was being rejuvenated and the Chilterns Centre kept saying new investors were coming in, and they are not doing anything to achieve this.

“I saw plans and pictures of different things and plans for the town but I am yet to see anything. The town itself hasn’t moved forward.

“Brexit has hit us hard – the while sale prices went up between 15 and 21 per cent and retail prices have not gone in line with it. We knew it was going to be difficult here.

“The council have been fantastic about it, letting us come out early, I can’t fault Wycombe District Council whatsoever.”

The 39-year-old, who also owns Oxfordshire Masters Golf, also believes shops on the outskirts of town, such as John Lewis, are forcing shoppers away from the town centre.

He added: “It is such a disappointment, I have put so much into it. Business rates are ridiculous across the board. There needs to be more support for smaller businesses.”

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council defended the town centre, saying High Wycombe “is thriving and growing”, adding a number of independent shops and retailers have opened as a result of its Old Town Renewal project.

Spokesman for WDC, Simon Farr, said: “We have been working closely with the owners in recent months and are sorry to see them leave – but we have already received an offer on the unit Yes Please Golf will vacate and are confident of attracting a new tenant.

“Meanwhile, residents may have noticed work is currently ongoing to convert one of two previously empty units in The Cornmarket the council now owns to enable an established independent business to open a new sandwich bar.

“The council is also close to acquiring another prominent and significant site in the High Street which would be redeveloped and put to the market, with proposals for a café in the underpass between the town and Buckinghamshire New University expected to be put forward soon.”

According to WDC the Eden Centre is celebrating a ten per cent increase in footfall and is preparing to welcomed "big name" retailers into the town centre.

The Bucks Free Press has approached The Chilterns Shopping Centre for a comment.

Yes Please Golf is expected to close on September 16.