Reid’s Shoes

A true Belfast institution and famous for its selection of children’s school shoes. It also sells mens 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.

I always knew the summer was coming to an end when we made that long trip across Belfast to go get school 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.