Barr & Co probably hasn't changed in 30 years, and, indeed, why should it? It caters I would say…read moremainly for older people - men and women - with a selection of soft and inexpensive shoes and slippers that would be comfortable and easily worn on tired feet. The biggest nod to fashion trends or any form of quirkiness would be the zebra striped wellington boots, imitation crocs and the almost irresistibly cheerful tiger feet slippers! Other stock includes various children's shoes, slipper and wellingtons. Should you need gum boots, which are good for the snow (when it happens) but can be hard to find in the city, they've also got what are about the best in that line - proper black Dunlop ones and some green boots too.

If you seeking elegant but traditional shoes for special occasions such as a weddings, or need…read moreappropriate footwear if your profession has a formal dress code then Arabesque is worth a visit. They stock Italian and Spanish designer shoes that are smart but comfortable classics, beautifully made from leather and suede that will lift your stature with out being excruciatingly high or ultra trendy. The target here is really for the well heeled older woman, but on the other hand I have noticed there are good sales on here so the prices are by no means out of sight. So I should confess my eye is on some rather nice wedge heel black suede numbers. There is also a selection of classic handbags to marry with the shoes. It's very old school in here, with a charming, gentlemanly proprietor in charge. As a small shop, the service is attentive so is best for those who are genuinely interested in the stock rather than casual browsers.

I always knew the summer was coming to an end when we made that long trip across Belfast to go get…read moreschool shoes in Reids. It was both exciting and depressing in equal measure. This shoe shop is huge, and it's pretty old fashioned. But something must be working because it has stood the test of time. I think it must be a family business to have survived this long. Apart from school shoes, I know a lot of people that go there to get wedding shoes (my mother included) and other occasion footwear.

A true Belfast institution and famous for its selection of children's school shoes. It also sells…read moremens and ladies shoes and I think it's fair to say that you won't find anything really fashion forward here, more like traditional and good quality men's shoes like Barkers and ladies boots and shoes for the over 30s. There is a wide range of kids school shoes so even the fussiest little darling should find a pair they like here. Top marks also for the balloon and Fredo Frog that goes in the bag with every pair. A really clever and appreciated little touch that I've never found anywhere else. I'm going to go against my own selfish rules for keeping bargains to myself and share the secret of the Reids kids shoe sale. Held once a year around Hallowe'en, it has some of the best bargains I've ever seen. For example all kids Geox trainers are reduced to an unbeatable £15. Given that Geox can be up to £50 full price, that is a really great sale. Here are the essentials - go early on the first morning of the sale, take cash as they don't accept cards in the sale, sharpen your elbows and bribe the children with whatever it takes to get them to do as they're told in among the slightly crazed crowds. You'll emerge battered and exhausted but with some of the best bargains ever.

This is certainly the shoe shop that stirs up the most memories from my childhood and I think that…read moreis probably the case for quite a few people. I remember with almost endless fondness the machine that told you what size your shoes are and the shoes that when you put the soles together they made a picture of the dinosaur. This shop is as standard a Clarks as you can get. The staff are friendly and polite and always helpful. The store itself is clean and tidy and nice and easy to get to with plenty of parking. The only thing is that they aren't the most fashionable but I think that is ok. You will get a solid pair of school or work shoes in here. Always at a good price and always top quality.

I wanted to get my son's feet measured to make sure I have the right fit and that I am not damaging…read morehis feet with ill fitting shoes, so off to Clarks we went. I didn't need to book in as there was plenty of staff around to measure his feet there and then. They gave him a pair of socks as he was in his bare feet and measured them without a problem. He did curl his feet up a lot and pull them away, but I feel that the staff member did an excellent job at measuring them accurately. The staff member asked if I was going to have a look for a pair of shoes for him, without putting pressure on to buy in Clarks. I wanted to get a good quality pair of first shoes for him and there were lots to choose from. The staff member suggested the trainers for him as he will get more wear out of them as they are slightly more generous in size. I respect her honesty and help. Even though Clarks are slightly more expensive I feel that they are worth it. They have some nice little shoes and not all of them are that boring

Like so many shops in Connswater this is where you can sometimes get something useful - footwear in…read morethis case - for not much money. Mostly the shoes aren't particularly good quality, for women, the inexpensive high heels which proliferate would not be very comfortable but I did find a fantastic pair of real wool slippers here and some cheap winter boots on sale as a quick fix which did the job. There are children's and men's shoes too, which are quite practical though I always get slightly annoyed as at Barratts they seem to think that women don't need an equivalent range of practical shoes to choose from. Believe it or not, we're not trying to teeter on high heels all the time! But the staff are always helpful and the shop is small, which I quite like, because it's easy to nip in and out of just in case there is anything of interest.

If you want shoes or sandals which are multi coloured, metallic, embellished with many details this…read moreis the place to visit, especially at sale times when most of the more restrained items have already been combed over. The shop I suppose caters for the older women's market and you will see plenty of high quality, no doubt very comfortable shoes for sale here. Good makes such as Geox and such like feature but though I have never found anything that I want to buy it is the sort of friendly little place that might surprise you. Though no doubt shoes of much the same type could be found on a trawl of the city centre or any small town round about and for anyone under 30, don't concern yourself, it's hardly likely to be your cup of tea.

Also forgot that these shops and cafes became these:…read more Dunnes Stores = Brand Max (now closed forever) Pickwicks = Shopmobility (now closed forever) Tesco = The Range Eason = The original Sports Direct (now closed forever) re:beebies = HomeStart Zodiac = The security guards and cameras area, which is so big that it has bikes and a Brand Max bag Index = Argos (now closed forever, mentioned before) Jill Edwards (mentioned before) = Fighting Words NI Next = Poundland and Mens Fashion (I think it was called that) Mens Fashion = Savers Karine & Co. (mentioned before) = Halloween and Christmas shops which never opened Lifestyle Sports and a Behind the Movies thing = Arts Care Unknown restaurant = Chicking Hungry Gull = Harland and Wolff Chip restaurant Danske Bank = PLATFORM Yangtze = Super Bowl H. Samuel (mentioned before along with Schoolbags) = Schoolbags and the Arts Care office Thomas Cook = Hays Travel Clarks = East Belfast Men's Talk Now, for the ones in the retail park. The original Lidl and Harry Corry = Home Bargains The original Lidl and Dreams = Halfords Lazer = Poundworld and HouseProud (two now closed forever) American Golf = Specsavers Gilpin's = The original Halfords (now closed when it was merged with the vacant JJB and CarpetRight units to make Lidl) The original Halfords (now next to Home Bargains), the original CarpetRight and JJB = Lidl Pizza Hut = Rigin and Starbucks Xtravision = CarpetRight and Tim Hortons Bensons for Beds = Restore Maplin = Restore and Jollyes Budget DIY = B&M FitnessFirst = Better (leisure centre) Vodafone, Brand Max, Sports Direct, GAME, all the four cafes on the ground floor, Sky, Argos, Specsavers, Eason, Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Optical Express, re:beebies, the Harland and Wolff restaurant, Chicking, Internacionale, Early Learning Centre, Shoezone, EE, Mens Fashion, Karine & Co, Ski & Sports (aka the Canterbury shop), Carphone Warehouse, TUI, the original men's talk which is replaced with storage, The original Lidl, Harry Corry, Dreams, Poundworld, Lazer, the original Halfords, JJB, the original CarpetRight, Xtravision, CarpetRight, Pizza Hut, Rigin, Bensons for Beds, the original Restore, Schoolbags, H. Samuel, Danske Bank, Zodiac, Pickwicks, Shopmobility, HouseProud, FitnessFirst, Budget DIY, Next and the unknown restaurant are still abandoned and some of them have been taken over. The Range, Boots, HomeStart, Arts Care, Vapourette, Mobile & Tablets, East Belfast Men's Talk, PLATFORM, Peacocks, the security guards area, Poundland, Savers, The Works, Bonmarché, Blue Inc, The Arts Care office, The Perfume Shop, Hays Travel, East Belfast Men's Talk, New Look, Poundstretcher, O2, Halifax, Holland and Barrett, Card Factory, Claire's, Netra, Burger King, Super Bowl, Subway, Lidl, Home Bargains, Halfords, Better (leisure centre), B&M, Specsavers, Ulster Bank, McDonald's, Jollyes and Restore are the remaining units in the shopping centre and retail park. Remember, 40 units + 53 empty units = 93 units altogether. THE END, AGAIN.

Standard shopping centre really…read more Shops are forever changing in here. The place is kept clean. Has decent parking.

Now I know feet can be a bit of squeamish subject for some people but sometimes you just have to…read moreman up and get the beasts treated. I had to go here a while ago as I'd a minor foot ailment and I must admit I wasn't looking forward to it one bit. I made the appointment on the phone and the lady was totally pleasant and I immediately got a bit more relaxed and pencilled the date into my diary. Of course I was a nervous wreck by the time the date came around but the clean, calm surroundings of the surgery put me at ease. The staff were all quite young and very friendly so the whole process of registering and treatment was very relaxed. I know it's sometimes considered impolite to talk about this most heinous of subjects but feet need love too. Shuropdpy, despite the punning name, will provide that in an effective and professional manner. Oh, there's also an adjoining shoe shop which sells all kind've shoes and accessories in varying styles. Pros: Excellent, professional service. Cons: Don't be shy.

Zamba is an upmarket shoe shop located a tiny bit incongruously in between the bakeries and…read morechemists of Kings Square. It's a total treasure trove of unusual shoes, boots, sandals and handbags and they do some jewellery too. Shoes are from ranges like Tommy Hilfiger, Fly London and Tamaris and I've bought a few fab pairs like the Hilfiger flip flops I wore until the design actually wore off! I got a super pair of wedges there a few weeks ago which will be on my trotters as soon as the temps go above freezing in Belfast! I especially love the Tamaris sandals and shoes which are bang on trend but not super high so you can actually walk about in them without snapping an ankle. My Hilfiger flip flops were £15 and the wedges £45 so the prices are in between cheap and heart stopping which is a good place to be. A little whisper though for bargain hunters - the Zamba sale is definitely where you'll snap up a pair of beauties for a good price.