Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions has retained its position as the premier auction house after coming out top of the property sales charts in Wales for the 11th year in a row.

The business, which is based in Lower Dock Street, emerged as number one in the national auction league after selling 401 properties out of 553 offered at a total value of £26.8m at nine auctions in 2018 registering 72.5 per cent sales of lots offered.

The property auctions business had a 25 per cent share of the entire number of properties sold at auction in Wales. The Newport firm’s closest competitor sold 143 lots for £13m.

Figures reveal that Paul Fosh Auctions maintained its dominance in the intensely competitive auction sales industry in Wales and also notched up a strong position in the UK rankings, at number 12 in the chart showing the number of properties sold.

The reputable annual auction sales chart, a highly-regarded guide within the industry, is compiled by UK industry experts Essential Information Group and published in association with industry ‘Bible’, Estates Gazette.

Paul Fosh Auctions managing director, Paul Fosh, who again played host to BBC’s hugely popular Homes Under the Hammer TV show at Cardiff sales during 2018, said: “The past 12 months was again another really strong year for auction sales in Wales and our team worked tirelessly as always, ensuring we remain top of the leader board. I am delighted with the excellent results we've managed to achieve.

“The team worked hard, first to assemble a vast range of commercial and domestic stock into the catalogue and then to do their utmost to get these lots sold at auction."

Paul Fosh said innovations at the business such as their online auctions and in auction real-time property and bid price screenings at the auctions, were proving popular.

The auction house has also started a rentals business Paul Fosh Lettings to further grow the business.

Mr Fosh said: “We are now well established in our new office in Lower Dock Street which offers the business great potential to expand and grow.

"The move to the new premises marked a real change in the way that we do business. It was a milestone for everyone involved, our loyal staff and also our customers. Excellent customer care and service are at the heart of all that we do.”

The auction business was able to offer a huge range of properties, traditional terraced houses, detached residential lots, land, commercial and industrial, throughout 2018.

Mr Fosh said: “We have been able to offer a full selection of properties of all types throughout the year. I am pleased to say we are bringing through an increased volume of commercial lots.

"We have had an array of commercial property alongside, residential, land, churches, pubs and heraldic titles and with increased exposure have been delighted to welcome an increasingly diverse range of customers to our regular sales.

“We’ve performed extremely well over the past 11 years securing the top position for property sales in Wales each year. We intend to carry this tradition on for many years to come, with 2019 starting as well as 2018 finished.”

The firm's next auction is on Thursday, May 2, at The Cardiff North Hotel by Accor, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, starting at 5pm.