Recommended shoe shops in Northern England

[TheDarkKnight]

Hello All, can anyone recommend great shoe shops Leeds and up, that offer a very good and experienced service? I have to wear a small insole due to an old injury, so size and fit can be a bit of a pain, so an experienced shop would be a great help.

Alas this is why I don't order shoes online as do need some guidance from a knowledgeable member of staff (at least until I know what lasts work for me etc)

I'm looking at Loake, Sanders, Barker and Cheaney, but sub £200 if possible, so a shop with seconds available too would be a boon.

Can anyone recommend this shop in York? http://www.watkinsonsshoes.com/

Many thanks

 

[Ingenieur]

Originally Posted by TheDarkKnight

Hello All, can anyone recommend great shoe shops Leeds and up, that offer a very good and experienced service? I have to wear a small insole due to an old injury, so size and fit can be a bit of a pain, so an experienced shop would be a great help. Alas this is why I don't order shoes online as do need some guidance from a knowledgeable member of staff (at least until I know what lasts work for me etc) I’m looking at Loake, Sanders, Barker and Cheaney, but sub £200 if possible, so a shop with seconds available too would be a boon. Can anyone recommend this shop in York? http://www.watkinsonsshoes.com/ Many thanks
If you can travel slightly south to Pontefract or Doncaster, the excellent Shoe Healer has Loakes. Edit: If you do visit Shoe Healer you can also try Trickers lasts and order from the factory store.

 

[Last Year's Man]

very slightly south of Leeds (my hometown) but Edwards of Manchester have a great little shop, super-experienced staff, and a nice selection of shoes from a variety of makers. I would strongly recommend popping in to speak to some guys who really know their shoes.

If you do go to Manchester, check out the Oxfam Originals shop in the northern quarter - They have some amazing stuff at amazing prices; Hermes ties, C&J shoes, a huge amount of nice tweed SC's last time I was there ( picked up a burberry trench for £60)

 

[Last Year's Man]

oh, here's the website http://www.edwardsofmanchester.co.uk/

they carry barker, cheaney and grenson on the website

 

[cold war painter]

Originally Posted by Last Year's Man

Edwards of Manchester

+1

 

[kev777]

Jacksons Shoes
Mirfield
Nr Leeds
01924 492326

Also look for them on ebay.
Andrew is and absolute gentleman and can get you a good deal if you twist his arm.
Pretty darn good cobbler too.
Tell him Kevin sent you

Stocks and can get Loake Alfred Sargent Trickers Sanders & does his own pretty good line
which i think are a special Sanders make.

 

[Marcellionheart]

I highly recommend the Shoe Healer in Doncaster. Extremely knowledgeable staff there.

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Guys this is a fantastic thread, thank you for the great help! I think I'll spend a couple of days, one Leeds and Doncaster and the other Manchester.

Thanks again

 

[TheDarkKnight]

A last bump and then to the shops in the next few days!

 

[Bashmachkin]

I live in York and I have bought a couple of pairs of shoes from Watkinsons. On the one hand the shop has been about for a long time and from what I gather maintains a good reputation amongst the people of York, and its selection is good with a wide range of Loake, Barker and Cheaney shoes plus a seemingly dwindling number of shoes by Church, and its window display, which I pass frequently, is suitably full and attractive; however I am hesitant to recommend the shop to you because my limited experience with it has not been great. The staff comprises mainly elderly women who sometimes seem to me quite tetchy; I was overcharged on a recent purchase, which error was admittedly corrected; and the shoes they sell on sale are a mixed bunch of shoes at best, and I have seen some pairs on sale with brogueing that does not match.

I am twenty-four years old and so perhaps an atypical customer for the shop, and I don't have any particular issues with my feet so haven't needed to really engage the staff in any detail. Perhaps if you went to Watkinsons and sought detailed help you'd get the best out of the shop, and it is worth visiting because it does have a decent selection of shoes - probably the best in York at least.

Otherwise, there is a small cobblers down an alley off Coney Street, one of the main shopping streets in York, which carries a limited but interesting selection of shoes by Loake, Alfred Sargent and Trickers, often with some seconds amongst their selection; Pavers has shoes by Loake and Barker; the Austin Reed in York often has its Cheaney and Church shoes on sale; the Gieves & Hawkes at the Designer Outlet outside the city centre sells shoes at reduced prices; and back in town Jones the Bootmaker, which used to carry Barker shoes, now carries little that may interest SF aside from this, their 'Manton' in black.

 

[Equus Leather]

There used to be a very good seconds shoe shop in the covered market in Durham that had a lot of good makes at very good prices. I've bought Trickers there before but dont remember what else they have.

HTH

Charlie

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Originally Posted by Bashmachkin

I live in York and I have bought a couple of pairs of shoes from Watkinsons. On the one hand the shop has been about for a long time and from what I gather maintains a good reputation amongst the people of York, and its selection is good with a wide range of Loake, Barker and Cheaney shoes plus a seemingly dwindling number of shoes by Church, and its window display, which I pass frequently, is suitably full and attractive; however I am hesitant to recommend the shop to you because my limited experience with it has not been great. The staff comprises mainly elderly women who sometimes seem to me quite tetchy; I was overcharged on a recent purchase, which error was admittedly corrected; and the shoes they sell on sale are a mixed bunch of shoes at best, and I have seen some pairs on sale with brogueing that does not match.

I am twenty-four years old and so perhaps an atypical customer for the shop, and I don't have any particular issues with my feet so haven't needed to really engage the staff in any detail. Perhaps if you went to Watkinsons and sought detailed help you'd get the best out of the shop, and it is worth visiting because it does have a decent selection of shoes - probably the best in York at least.

Otherwise, there is a small cobblers down an alley off Coney Street, one of the main shopping streets in York, which carries a limited but interesting selection of shoes by Loake, Alfred Sargent and Trickers, often with some seconds amongst their selection; Pavers has shoes by Loake and Barker; the Austin Reed in York often has its Cheaney and Church shoes on sale; the Gieves & Hawkes at the Designer Outlet outside the city centre sells shoes at reduced prices; and back in town Jones the Bootmaker, which used to carry Barker shoes, now carries little that may interest SF aside from this, their 'Manton' in black.


This is very useful thank you. As first and foremost I'm looking for good service and knowledge, old tetchy women staff is an immediate no, so I will not visit!

Originally Posted by Equus Leather

There used to be a very good seconds shoe shop in the covered market in Durham that had a lot of good makes at very good prices. I've bought Trickers there before but dont remember what else they have.

HTH

Charlie


This sounds interesting, when I know more of what lasts and brands work for me, I will see if this is still about.

Slightly off topic, what alterations tailor do you use being in Northumberland? I've used Isaac Waltons a few times but I'm looking for a new alterations tailor.

 

[TheDarkKnight]

I went down on Wednesday to The shoe healer, and although it was Richard's day off (the fitting expert), his staff were very helpful indeed. I got just what I was looking for at this time, some mid brown brogues to wear with jeans and a blazer, from Loake 1880: http://www.loake.co.uk/Shop/Products...ake+Catalog%29 Strangely they are the same last as my black semi brogue Loake Hiltons and the same size but the black ones are a little too snug. http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/produc...colour_id=1034 Have any of you guys found this before? I think it may be because the brogues have an oxford lacing, which I was told was much better for a flat foot than the derby lacing of the semi brogue.

 

[Marcellionheart]

The lacing style could very well change that situation yes. Especially if you're finding it tight around the instep. Glad you found what you needed at the Shoehealer. The Savoys are nice.

 

[Infrasonic]

Originally Posted by Last Year's Man

very slightly south of Leeds (my hometown) but Edwards of Manchester have a great little shop, super-experienced staff, and a nice selection of shoes from a variety of makers. I would strongly recommend popping in to speak to some guys who really know their shoes.

If you do go to Manchester, check out the Oxfam Originals shop in the northern quarter - They have some amazing stuff at amazing prices; Hermes ties, C&J shoes, a huge amount of nice tweed SC's last time I was there ( picked up a burberry trench for £60)


Additionally there is a Flannels clearance store virtually next door to Oxfam. It's just a door leading down to a basement. Some seriously steep discounted label stuff in there (if you're into labels). They do shoes as well. New stock monthly apparently.