Shoe Shine in London - Page 2

I'm 90% sure he actually uses Crockett & Jones products. I've been going to him at the Burlington Arcade for the past 3 years.

Malford is right. I tried the Burlington fella and he did a less than two minute job. and a very mediocre shine. Worth it for the experience, but not so much for the outcome.

Steve's shoe shine seems interesting.

 

Odd - I've had very different experiences at the Burlington Arcade. I would think a shoe shine is between 5 and 7 minutes depending on whether you get the standard or the premium service. He is rather popular and there is usually a short wait for him. In November he even started handing out loyalty cards (a stamp card that gets you a free shine after every X visits). I have found the quality to be excellent and go there frequently - perhaps it is worth a second try for you.

 

Actually, maybe stay away and keep my queue short :) 

Didn't get those. How many shoe shine 'boys' are there at Burlington?

At least two that I've noticed. I had a fairly average shine from one of them.


I used to go to this guy from time to time, he was good. Had both kiwi and saphir (for an extra 50p or something). The first time I went he took one glance at my shoes (edward greens as I recall) and got the saphir out before I'd said a word - made me think he knew what's what. He asked about them and seemed genuinely interested in all things shoe.

I must have had tough luck and gotten the shoeshine 'boy' who wasn't so adept. If it helps anybody the guy had long hair.

They probably have the capability to create beautiful shines... just not the time. However, I wasn't encouraged when the Burlington Arcade bloke asked how I polished my shoes. He wrote down the list of Saphir products I used. Wonder if he acted on it..

The Shoe Snob bloke (Gieves & Hawkes) is intelligent and well informed. Polishing is just a part of what he does. Also sells flat leather laces

I reckon Style Forum is partly responsible for the availability of Saphir in the the UK. I recently spoke to a cobbler in Chelsea, and he shifted a shed load of the stuff as soon as it arrived.

-H

We're responsible for a lot more than that...I remember speaking to a chap at a party (he started writing things on a napkin) as he was forming up ideas for a new menswear website, something porter, and then lo and behold that site was launched with a lot of my brand suggestions.

There's a lot of industry types lurking here, you know.