Everywhere you look in Jones Bootmaker, you can see leather. That's what they do, you see…read more Aside from stocking famous brands like Cat and Ted Baker, this serious shoe shop stocks a massive selection of leather shoes and boots. In fact, it's so much about the leather that they only carry four or five trainers for boys. Jones Bootmaker also has a great range of shoe care products behind the counter. If you want to tenderly care for your shoes then they have brushes, polishes and shoe horns. Who would ever want to buy a wooden thing shaped like a foot that you put in a shoe to help it keep its shape? Is this the kind of thing a boy will never understand?

There are stores that have a strong identity and style and others that aim to appeal to everyone by…read morestocking a bit of everything. One glance at their confused window displays reinforces that Moda In Pelle fall firmly into the latter camp. There's no attempt to woo new customers with eye-catching graphics or cool displays, just simple rows of heels and sparkly shoes on the bottom row, ankle boots on the middle row and knee high leather, suede and jewelled boots on the top two rows. This might work if only some of the shoes and boots in the window weren't so damn ugly! Inside the shop is just as bad with radically different styles rubbing soles next to each other. I actually spotted a fabulous pair of white boots with tasteful silver studs but I wasn't going to shell out £120 on them when they were next to boots I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy! To quote teachers across the world: Must Try Harder!

You'll notice a lot of my reviews are focussing on sales at the moment... well, tis the season, and…read moreon (at the time of typing) this, the Monday that is supposed to be the most depressing Monday of the year (first bills after the festive period and what-not), what better to bring cheer to yourself (girls) or any female you know than a nice pair of footpieces. Yes, there is nothing that quite lifts the spirit like a new pair of shoes, and I have to say, Moda in Pelle has one of the best sales I've seen in a long time. A shy and retiring little boutique amongst the smaller Market Street shops, this branch just off St Ann's Square is a right little gem. And as for those reductions, well, you can't argue with a stunning pair of bright red wedge sandals reduced from £80 to £25. Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you, and it'd be rude not to grab them - after all, thinking of that summer holiday is probably keeping you going right now... I've always found the staff in Moda in Pelle very friendly and helpful, and they give you space to browse. There's a great range of shoes on offer too, from the aforementioned wedges (and plenty of them... I love my summer wedges, so this is a must for me) to Ugg-esque Edhas and Dais and biker boots, fancy courts and pretty pumps to a lovely variety of handbags. To me it feels like a nice little halfway point between the ostentatious self-worth of Kurt Geiger and the cheerful high street demeanour of Office and Faith. If you're after a little treat in the sale, don't miss this one out.

Recently refurbished, this Shoe Zone store is in the Manchester Arndale in the Halle Malle section…read moreof the shopping centre, it is basically located next to the new multi-million-pound dining complex, next to CeX and Archies, and opposite the former Starbucks unit which is currently vacant. The refurbishment brings the store in line with the new Shoe zone layout they are slowly implementing, which makes the stores just seem a lot less ugly and hideous. The store does look and feel a lot nicer now, a way to describe Shoe Zone would be similar to Primark, but mainly for shoes, the shoes are more "budget" and if you have special requirements for shoes other than getting a quick pair which might not be fantastic quality, this place isn't for you. They basically have the shoes lines up ready for you in different sizes, and you don't really need to call a member of staff to get your shoes, as traditional. The staff don't seem as helpful or friendly as other shoe stores as a result. 2* - Decent for getting a cheap pair of shoes, you only plan to use once or twice, if you're looking for quality or perhaps a better and more fashionable choice this isn't the place for you.

Ah, Shoe Zone. Aka the Twilight Zone. Not because it's full of pale kids with greasy hair and an…read moreunnatural lust for vampires, no, because I find it to be one of the most confusing shoe stores I've encountered since Deichmanns. I set foot into Shoe Zone just once, simply because I was desperately seeking shoes to match the wedding outfit I had for New Year and I was getting to the point where I literally had to jump into every shoe outlet in Manchester. Otherwise, there had been nothing to entice me into Shoe Zone. No intriguing display, no pretty colours... it's like the Army and Navy store version of a shoe shop, militant, bare, minimalist and seemingly laid out by a person with OCD. Indeed, what you will find is very neatly stacked and colour coordinated shoes. You just won't find interesting shoes. It's a great option for people seeking simplicity. You've got brogues, wellies, loafers, something for the kids... but party shoes and ballet pumps, platforms and strappy sandals are noticeably absent. You know when Jen refers to the outdoor smoking area in The IT Crowd as 'Soviet'? That's kind of how Shoe Zone feels. Fine for the basics, cheap as you like, but a little too military for my tastes.

Clarks! Who didn't love using the strange foot-measuring machine as a kid? What little girl didn't…read morewant a pair of Princess Magic Steps with the key in the sole? The joy of the foot-measuring machine was that slight nervous anticipation when you thought it could potentially squash your foot but it stops just short. Parents trusted Clarks because they seemed very focussed on ensuring their children's feet weren't going to be uncomfortable or deformed due to shoes. They wouldn't sell you anything just for the sake of making a sale, they want to sell you the RIGHT shoes. And the left ones too for that matter. Hehe. So you'll never get a pair of foot-massacring party heels at Clarks, so what? That ain't the Clarks way. It's cosy and comfy feet in their book, and anything with a heel has a heck of a lot of cushioning, and that heel sure as hell won't be a stiletto. It'll be something chunky, like in the 60s. Clarks very handily categorises its shoes via function, such as workwear, smart, casual, college and so on. You know you're getting quality, with their soft leather, well-fitting footwear. And they even do half sizes as standard. Do you know how many shops just refuse to acknowledge that half sizes exist? Tons. It might be sensible, but Clarks doesn't have to be boring. They've always catered to their audience while maintaining a subtle plateau of innovation, and that's what we love about them. When I worked at Barratt's I used to gaze longingly at the Clarks a few shops down. There's a shoe shop where people care about feet, I thought, explaining for the fiftieth time that day to a customer that we didn't do half sizes. Clarks has proved itself recession-proof, and it might just be time-proof too.

This is Manchester's Clarks store, yes they is some in smaller towns like Bury and Oldham however…read morethis one is in the city centre, and is much better than my local one, which is quite small and located opposite Heaton Park in the Sainsbury's They have a private section for kids upstairs, which gives you that little bit more of peace when looking for shoes. Both sections are a decent size Most Clarks' shoes are stocked here however they is a selection avaliable on the website to order in. The staff seemed quite nice and helpful. Unfortunatly I had to leave with no shoes and none being right for me due to feet problems and they was nothing on the website. This is a nice store and I prefer the in store experiance rather than online especially for shoes and it looks like I am going to have to kiss Clarks' goodbye. 3 stars for the good size of the store and staff, I can't give more due to the price of some shoes and they could definitley be more selection, in colours for example other than laces shoes, which I don't like.

Do you drink bottles of white lightning cider at your local park? Look forward to mincing about…read morelooking to cause people problems because you feel like the world's dealt you a tough time. Then launder outside this shop and you'll meet many like minded people. Footlocker is good if you have a genuine affection towards big brand trainers they stock some alright clothes as well, the only problem is they seem to deal exclusively with dick heads. Arr well, if you can get in and out quick enough then your usually alright, i.e. research what you want how your buying it, call ahead, then run the purchasing of it in store like a snatch op.

I love trainers and shoes! And Footlocker has a great collection of it! Whatever kind of shoe…read moreyou're looking for, I'm definite you're to find it in here, considering how massive this place is. It also has big sports branded bags and some clothes as well, but they don't take the focus from the shoes away. The only annoying part in my two visits was the staff. You have to buy something there to face it. If they sell you a pair of shoes, they will try to manipulate and force their way into selling you a 'sneaker spray', which apparently would help my shoe from the rains. Or they will try their best to sell some laces even if I've told them 20 times I don't and finally they will mock you about it. Apart from the over persuasiveness of the staff, the place is a heads up for shoes!

This branch of Schuh is the brand's only branch in Manchester city centre, it is located on Market…read moreStreet which is basically next to the new branch of WHSmith and the Arndale Centre. I called in this branch just to take a look at the footwear and see if there was any other clothing available ahead of my upcoming week in Barcelona, having used Schuh before when ordering my Ralph Lauren Polo trainers as I found them cheaper than rivals such as JD Sports, I thought this branch would be great on my search today. Schuh is a retailer which supports MyUNIDays, where you can get 10% off here in this instance if you qualify for it. The staff here didn't seem too welcoming or friendly sadly. The overall store inside, just seemed abit of a mess to me, it seemed to be a similar sort of layout and decor style to the other Schuh branch I have visited in the past, in Blackburn but for a city centre this just doesn't cut it. The store doesn't really stand out either on Market Street, which is the main shopping street in Manchester and as you go in, you can basically taste the clutter and disappointment, so sadly I feel this store let's down a big city like Manchester so deserves a single one star.

This branch of Schuh sells exactly the same stock as the Trafford Centre branch but it tends to…read morehave friendlier staff and a more buzzy atmosphere. Saturdays and Sundays are hellishly busy, especially at the beginning of the month when everyone's just been paid, so if you're wanting to try lots of pairs on try a week day. The stock changes monthly with a vast array of sensible, silly, ornate and outrageous shoes, heels, mary janes, boots, trainers and sneakers. Brands include Red or Dead, Rocketdog, Fly London, Irregular Choice, Fred Perry, K-Swiss, Adidas, Converse, Vans and Schuh's own excellent brand.

I'm shocked that there are shops in Manchester that know about Nudie jeans, let alone a single shop…read morethat carries them. Are there Mancunians with that large a wad of cash burning a whole through their purses? Impressive! A chill, hipster-y gent sold the boy a super cute pair of Vans (casual shoes that aren't a shade of brown: success!) and explained the origins of the noteworthy bicycle saddles hanging up behind the till. Luxury skinny jeans and posh gear for your fixie... I mean, what else could a Williamsburg-wannabe desire, right?

Good style never comes cheap. This is especially true if you're a man. Most clothing boutiques and…read morehigh street stores cater for women and it's rare you find a store like this that offers so many unique quality items for the discerning young gentleman. This is the only store my boyfriend comes to for his trousers (in particular he Edwin brand of jeans) simply because you can't find them anywhere else. From Barbour to Oliver Spencer, Levis to YMC, they have such a well selected collection of labels that convey the best in British understated style.

The place feels like it has got left behind. I prefer the Trafford Centre or Liverpool ONE.read more

Over priced £1 for pva glue what on earth caused such money…read moregreed not to mention is maze like structure and the so called reusable bags that I'm sure are recycled condoms

I walked in here out of sheer desperation to find plain black shoes when I used to work at the…read moreOdeon. I mean desperation because even Primark didn't have them! Other than that, I would have never entered this store! It is stark and looks like a store room full of shoe boxes. Why wouldn't someone display what they have! Especially in a shoe store! I don't get such logic. It has an eerie atmosphere which makes you want to leave the moment you enter. The place smells of shoes. I know that it's a shoe store, but don't shops smell nice? And hence we stick around longer? But nope, Deichman decided to go for the 'I don't care-I'm your shoe store, take whatever you can find' attitude! Anyhow, they did have the black pair of shoes I wanted for £8 and I was happy. Other than that, it is going to remain a room full of shoe boxes in my head!

Europe's biggest shoe retailer apparently, and a master of doing so in the most depressing way…read more I know the lack of showbiz is what allows them to keep the prices down but they could have made some effort, drawn some pictures or made a collage or something. Surely they've watched Art Attack- Neil can make a 20ft dinosaur out of cigarette stumps!

Russell & Bromley always have at least one or two pairs of truly divine shoes in the window. Right…read morenow, they have a gorgeous, leather, studded ankle boot in a variety of colours. At £295 they're way over my budget but if I was loaded I'd be tempted to buy a grey AND cherry red pair. The leather feels good quality and unlike other shoe companies, they feel comfy instantly. You would think selling lovely shoes to people with too much money would be a breeze of a job. Unfortunately, the staff in this branch can be a little cold and snooty. The decor is also a little old fashioned, bringing to mind old department stores with doormen in dicky bow ties. Still, those boots....!

Russell and Bromley is where I dream I could shop. Perhaps if I stopped pouring my wages straight…read moreback into Sir Phillip Green's pockets I'd actually be able to afford a timeless pair of leather penny loafers with tassles á la Alexa Chung. At between eighty-five and ninety-five pounds a pop they're definitely an investment piece with some serious style credentials. And it's not just the loafers which are so delicious - the ballet pumps and chunky leather sandals all pack a punch. Everything about this shop just oozes English sophistication from its setting in the chic St. Ann's square to the tasteful décor and... edible shoes. Oh!