▁that ▁the ▁decision ▁to ▁close ▁the ▁Al ton ▁site ▁had ▁been ▁forced ▁by ▁" a ▁fundamental ▁shift ▁in ▁the ▁third - party ▁travel ▁ins urance ▁market ▁in ▁the ▁last ▁few ▁years " ▁and ▁that ▁" M aj or ▁clients ▁of ▁Inter ▁Group ▁have ▁recently ▁taken ▁their ▁travel ▁ins urance ▁business ▁back ▁in - house ▁and ▁sad ly ▁we ▁have ▁no ▁alternative ▁but ▁to ▁make ▁this ▁announ cement ▁today ". ▁He ▁said , ▁" We ▁have ▁expl ored ▁every ▁possible ▁a venue ▁before ▁propos ing ▁this ▁un fortun ate ▁action ." ▁ ▁Al ton ▁has ▁a ▁range ▁of ▁chain ▁stores ▁and ▁independent ▁sh ops ▁including ▁gre eng roc ers , ▁but ch ers ▁and ▁a ▁hardware ▁shop . ▁There ▁are ▁five ▁main ▁super mark ets ▁that ▁serve ▁the ▁town . ▁ ▁Culture ▁Jane ▁Aust en ▁Reg ency ▁Week ▁is ▁a ▁celebr ation ▁of ▁the ▁time ▁the ▁author ▁Jane ▁Aust en ▁spent ▁in ▁Al ton ▁and ▁Ch aw ton ▁and ▁is ▁held ▁in ▁June ▁each ▁year . ▁ ▁The ▁Allen ▁Gallery ▁serves ▁as ▁Al ton ' s ▁art ▁gallery . ▁It ▁houses ▁a ▁large , ▁permanent ▁cer am ics ▁collection ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁temporary ▁exhib itions . ▁ ▁Holy bourne ▁Theatre ▁is ▁on ▁the ▁site ▁of ▁a ▁former ▁N issen ▁h ut ▁that ▁was ▁converted ▁into ▁a ▁theatre ▁by ▁German ▁prisoners - of - war ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁Pl ays ▁have ▁been ▁performed ▁there ▁since ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁but ▁the ▁official ▁opening ▁was ▁not ▁until ▁ 1 9 7 1