Grenson Shoes

Just a short post to mention how pleased I am with everyone at Grenson shoes.  Grenson are an old English shoemaker (founded in 1866) who produce beautiful mens shoes.  I have many pairs of Grenson’s, I like the way they hold their style and shape and are very well-made.

This post is in praise of their factory and their new range of shoes. 

Firstly I want to show you a picture of a pair of Grenson Commando town-boots that I just had repaired.  The boots came back looking like new and they are nine years old!  Grenson’s craftsmen made a superb job of repairing them. 

I have several pairs of these town-boots and they are comfortable, hardwearing and smart enough to wear to work in my Banking day job.  What is particularly good about them is they have a shock-absorbent layer above the sole, which makes them comfortable to wear, even over long periods. 

Grenson no longer sell this exact model, but they sell a similar boot in their “Sharp” and “Bleasdale” ranges.    

While I was having the shoes repaired in Grenson’s new shop I spent some time looking at their new range.  Grenson have invested heavily in modern designs to complement their quality crafted manufacturing.  As a result the new range is strikingly stylish, with lots of italian flair and distinctive hides.  There are some particularly good styles in marbled calf, suitable for work, yet stylish enough for leisure (and anyone who works in the City of London knows that one can follow the other very quickly).

I bought a pair of Walsgraves’ (Walsgrave, Grenson Style NO. 6643) because I liked the long shape, the dark chestnut/red of the marbled calf and the high narrow bridge.  Here is a picture:

I wore these shoes for the first time yesterday, with a navy blue Italian (Corneliani) suit.  They complemented the suit perfectly and like every pair of Grensons I have owned they were immediately comfortable. 

Grenson’s new shop is tiny but they have packed the space with some really good-looking shoes.  If you are within striking distance of the shop, go and have a look.  The smiling fellow below is Keith, the manager of the store, next to a picture of the Grenson factory in Northants. Keith knows his shoes inside out, and provides an excellent service.  If you want some help with shoes, he is your man.

If you cannot get to the shop, Grenson’s website is below.  Alternately, the Natural Shoe Store (see below for details) stocks some of the Grenson range.     

I will write more on Grenson another time but for now put them on your list of classic shoe makers.     

Details:

Grenson

The Great Eastern Hotel, Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 7QN

Tel:     44 (0)20 7618 5050

http://www.grenson.co.uk/

Natural Shoe Store

21 Neal Street, Covent garden, London, WC2H 9PU

Tel:     44 (0)20 7836 5254

www.thenaturalshoestore.com