My girlfriend, in desperate need of some new shoes decided to head into Blunts, on the Bearwood…read morehigh street last weekend, but unfortunately found nothing to satisfy her 'acquired' taste.. Despite an extensive variety of shoes at her disposal, as well as an extremely helpful if not pushy member of staff, she found no joy. The shoes on offer are much more sensible than the ones she was after, with schools shoes featuring prominently throughout. In the area that is Bearwood, it isn't surprising, with a large number of families and young children living nearby. The prices seemed relatively cheap, but it seems that If you are looking for something a bit more stylish, then this may not be the place for you.

Blunts is a traditional shoe shop in the middle of Bearwood High Street. It's been there since…read moreforever and as well as selling 'sensible' shoes from the Clarks and Hush Puppy ranges they also stock comfortable looking flats, spangly sandals, wellies, kids shoes, slippers, flip-flops etc. Bargains can be found in the baskets outside but the best thing about it is the interior of the shop - where boxes and boxes of shoes are stacked with the names and sizes facing out - names like 'Drum Beat' and 'Carousel Ride' and my personal favourite 'Dublin Streets'. They have a nice selection of wallets and purses and the people who work here are really friendly and helpful. They also have an online presence with shoes available via their ebay store.

Sandal House is one of the best places on the Soho Road for shoes! Although they specialise in…read morefootwear for Asian clothes, they have simpler designs that imitate Western styles. They cater for men, women and children of all ages. So, for women, there are extremes of stiletto styles to complete flats and comfort for varying age groups. There is also a selection of jewellery and handbags, which are averagely priced for the area but I have found similar designs elsewhere in Birmingham at more reasonable prices. The staff is polite but tend not to engage in conversation. They often have a sale or a reduced items rack in the middle of the shop floor with shoes at as little as £10! The most convenient parking is behind the shop which can be accessed at the corner of Nationwide. It's only 40p for the hour!

This place sells shoes pretty cheaply. I've never bought any from here, but even if I tried some…read moreon I'd have difficulty judging them as last time I went in there the foot-mirror had a crack that had been patched up with sellotape. Sadly, this business looks like it's crossed that line between old-fashioned and just old. It's like walking into 1979 without any nostalgia involved and the shop is frankly in dire need of a facelift and a refit. That business is maybe not as fast as it used to be is amplified by the sight of old second-hand CDs of the kind usually found in a charity shop bargain bin for sale on a rack outside. What I will say for them is they cut keys, which is a useful service as they're one of the only businesses in the area that do that unless you fancy the walk to Oldbury or Bearwood. As for shoes, in this instance I'll have to forego supporting local business and stick with established high-street names, thank you.

This is an old-fashioned ladies shoe shop on Cradley Heath High Street. Whilst the shoes aren't…read moreexactly my style, I like the place. The window displays always look good and the owners clearly take a lot of pride in their shop. They sell classic ladies footwear, more suitable for the older customers than the Topshop crowd. They always have smart "special occasion" shoes and comfortable looking sandals. Prices aren't exactly bargain basement, but you can tell that the stock is well-made and excellent quality. There are always plenty of cars parked outside and ladies going in and out of the shop. I popped in once when looking for some shoes for my Mom - staff were helpful and friendly.

A gorgeous new shoe boutique has opened in the elegant Great Western Arcade in Birmingham. The shoe…read moredesigns are based on vintage styles from the 1920s to the 1950s and are handmade in a family-run factory in Spain, all are leather lined and either leather or suede. The shop itself is pure eye candy with beautiful interior styling by AVA Event Styling, the staff are highly knowledgable and very friendly and approachable. Downstairs is home to Agnes & Norman ladies collection, upstairs for mens and Rachel Simpson Bridal range. Shoes range from £120-£165 which is brilliant for hand-made designer shoes, there are also some discontinued bridal shoes which are much cheaper. The boutique opened on Sat 9th June 2013 and there is 25% off all shoes until 16th June. I am being 100% open in saying that I am delighted to be a part of this enterprise but also as a shopper this is like my dream shop! Please pop and and write your own independent review :) "the story In 1927 Agnes Stafford & Norman Simpson got married. It was snowing, so Agnes had to be carried to the church so as not to spoil her shoes. Eight children and twenty-two grandchildren later, in 2001 one of those granddaughters became a shoe designer, travelling to shoe factories around the world. Several years later in 2008 she launched her own shoe company... The inspiration behind the debut collection is told through a beautiful series of photographs taken of four friends whose trip to the seaside ends with the beginning of a beautiful love story."

Cornbow is absolutely fine. It has a range of high street chains as you'd expect - Clarks, New…read moreLook, the odd charity shop.. It serves a purpose, and in Halesowen that purpose is to provide reliable chain stores where you know you can grab a pair of sandals or a cardigan and you know roughly what you'll pay and even what it'll look like. (Chain shops = reliability + copycat fashion) I think it's amazing it's still relatively full of shops - my local shopping centre in Wolverhampton is falling to pieces and full of empty shops making it one of the most depressing places to visit. In contrast, this fills a necessary niche in the shopping landscape of Halesowen.

Gah! I really dislike this place. I try to be positive with my reviews, but I'm struggling here…read more The Cornbow has a decent butchers shop (just outside Asda)? The car park has a fun helter-skelter ramp thingy? I'm clutching at straws here. I just find the place, and the shops within it, to be a bit depressing. It has a Gamestation, Argos, Asda, Supedrug, New Look... ...you get the idea. It also has a few independents thrown in for good measure. I'm pretty certain that they were playing muzak during my last visit. There isn't anything special about the place. The arrival of the three-story Asda has pretty much killed the rest of the centre - sucking shoppers in to it like some sort of glowing green retail vortex. I'm biased against the place because a guy barged into me with his trolley whilst I was in the lift. It really bugged me because he didn't even apologise. Not really the Cornbow Centre's fault, but it makes me suspicious of anywhere that encourages "trolley in lift" scenarios.

Merry Hill is a big shopping centre located in Brierley Hill, it is home to over 200 shops such as…read moreM&S, Debenhams, Topman, River Island etc.. Over recent years it has become less of the giants in shopping centres of the UK. There are plenty of places to eat from Burger king to Pizza hut, however there are quite a few smaller cafes to eat from and a Millies cookies! Parking is not a problem in the weekday, however on Saturdays and around Christmas you have to be there when they open. Other shops in Merry Hill include Disney Shop, Game, HMV, WHSmith and much more. However, Over recent years it has gone down hill slightly purely at the groups that hang around the bus station and the general crowdidness of it at times. I would recommend a trip to Birmingham to the Bullring which has better shops and better ambiance anyway.

Merry Hill - the perfect place to gather the bits & bobs everybody needs! No matter what you are…read morelooking for, you will find it here...even if you don't need anything you'll most probably leave with a shopping bag in you hand! :) A wide range of clothes, cosmetics, beauty salons, food stalls etc. are waiting to welcome you. On the weekends you can take a short break of shopping while watching small presentations of dancers, singers or musicians. Kids can have a great day in the indoor play area which is child minded. Free parking spaces make your arrival and departure as easy as possible.

Those who know me know I am obsessed with shoes. I simply can't buy enough! So when I'm passing by…read morea shop like Poze, I'm instantly drawn in! They have a fabulous selection of party and evening wear shoes that are usually glitzy in style and colour. In fact, the shop is divided by colour schemes so if you're looking for a particular shade to match your outfit, you could go to that section. The prices are very reasonable and they usually have a sale on so you could bag bargains from as little as £10! The styles are versatile so can be worn with both Asian and Western fashion. They also have a selection of evening bags and clutches. The back of the shop has shoes for children too. It can be a nightmare to park on or near the Soho Road but the car park behind Badial's can be accessed near the Nationwide Building Society. It's close and convenient.