Shoe Zone

Shoe Zone operates at the bottom of the shoe market and so stock shoes at a very low price point, usually below £10.
Shoes of this price very rarely are made with high quality material and so last much less time. The general nature means the shoes are low quality.
I would buy plimsoles for gym work but not for running. These shoes are false economy and have no mention of where or how they are made.

I don’t know why shops like Shoe Zone bother to set up in business so close to other stores of immeasurably more merit, just like this one has done when the fantastic A G Meek Shoes is just a couple of minutes walk up the Albany Road. I’ve copied the review I’ve written for them at the end of this one so that you can compare and contrast… and I’m sure that you’ll agree that they are the outright winners in the shoes stakes on this street…
Shoe Zone sells on price rather than on quality. As far as I’m aware, they don’t carry any of the recognized brands that we know make shoes that fit the foot properly… that’s not to say that the mass produced shoes, made with questionable materials, that you can buy here, often for less than a tenner, won’t fit your feet well, it’s just that it’s a lot less likely!
Now, I’m not one for labels. I think they’re, more often than not, a poor excuse for charging fashion victims and the undiscerning in general a lot more money than is fair or reasonable. More established brands, that have been around for decades, like Kickers and Dr Marten’s for example, tend to charge what the products are worth, and know a thing or too about putting a shoe together! Not only will their shoes last way longer than a season, but the styles that they produce are as equally enduring. This cannot be said for most of the footwear on sale at Shoe Zone.
A G Meek is one of the better shops along the Albany Road. At first glance you’d be forgiven for believing that it’s a conventional shop that carries all the brands that are targeted toward the more mature customer like Eco and Scholl, whereas in actual fact, they stock some really cool brands like Dr Marten’s, Kickers, Hush Puppies, and Grenson’s as well as a whole range of teetering heels and strappy decorative women’s shoes, (which will ensure that you will be looking for Eco and Scholl footwear by the time you reach fifty!). A large shop, they also carry a good range of walking boots and specialist items like snow boots. Prices are really affordable and they always have good sales. There’s a really cool kids section too. Best of all… there’s a sale on at the moment!
One way in which they are ‘old fashioned’, is another thing that adds to their appeal. They perform shoe repairs and cut keys, but these days they do it with a modern slant. There’s none of that dropping off your favourite shoes for a week so they can be re-​heeled. Instead, A G Meek have moved with the times and now offer a repair service while you wait.

Shoe Zone is pretty down-​market. In general they seem to stock the kind of shoes that you want to like, you really want to like, and you almost do like. For a second you convince yourself that you really like it because the prices are so low but then you remember that you have the gift of sight.
Actually, I’m being a little bit unfair because there are a few nice pairs of shoes in here (though you do have to look for them) but the quality really isn’t good.
To be fair to this shop in particular, the staff are really lovely. They are quite clearly bored and, as you approach them, you think they’re going to be horrid. But a smile lights up their faces as you get their attention. They are very willing to help.
However, this is purely a shop, not a place to be fitted so if you want shoes that fit you correctly, go somewhere else.