Get Your Kicks: 12 Great Shoe Shops in Newcastle
A guide to some of the best shoe shops in the city
Wearing the right shoes is essential – in terms of completing an outfit, suiting the occasion and, more practically, giving you the right kind of comfort and support.
You probably wouldn’t wear hiking boots to a wedding, or kitten heel mules to tackle the Great North Run (although massive respect if you do!).
So here’s our guide to some of the best shoe outlets in the city, from high fashion to sports-focused and from independents to high street institutions.
Skechers, Eldon Square
Skechers is one of the biggest casual sneaker brands in the world, with thousands of shops worldwide and dozens in the UK. They only stock their own ranges, but that covers everything from boat shoes to sandals, street sneakers to sports trainers. They even sell slippers!
Foot Asylum, Northumberland Street
Straddling the worlds of sport, street and fashion for a couple of decades, Foot Asylum is an obvious stop if you’re looking for brand-new kicks from big brands – Adidas, Nike, Reebok and the like – but also more niche or fashion-forward lines like Vans or Calvin Klein. They sell plenty of sports and streetwear too.
Schuh, Eldon Square
Forty years since the first Schuh branch opened in Edinburgh, the chain is a familiar high street fixture known for carrying a large range of brands, from the sporty (Adidas, Asics, Puma) to the fashionable (Polo, Boss, Guess) and the sturdy and practical (Dr Martens, Timberland, Barbour). Their own range of Schuh footwear has a good reputation too and often features gravity-defying boots and other unusual, alternative styles.
Charles Clinkard, Eldon Square
A North East success story, the Clinkards opened their first store in Middlesbrough in 1924 and have since built up some forty-plus branches and a strong reputation for quality footwear of all kinds. They stock dozens of brands in every style but are particularly strong on smart and smart-casual shoes for men, women and children with plenty of school-friendly options on the shelves.
Kick Game, Eldon Square
Kick Game are specialists in high-end sneakers from the biggest, most sought after brands: Air Jordan, Yeezy, Nike and the rest, plus more exclusive lines like Louis Vuitton, Dior and Supreme. Kick Game aim to stock the latest drops and the latest styles and offer a range of sportswear and streetwear too.
Shoe Zone, Clayton Street
The Clayton Street branch of Shoe Zone offers hundreds of shoes, boots, trainers, sandals and more from a vast range of household brands, often at very competitive prices. From Regatta wellies to Kickers school shoes, Skechers slip-on sneakers to Stone Creek Chelsea boots, Shoe Zone will get you shod at a bargain price.
1LUX, Grainger Street
1Lux is all about limited editions, fresh drops and sourcing those hard-to-find sneaker releases. If you’re looking for the brand-new Yeezys or a rare nineties pair of Nikes, 1Lux will do all they can to hook you up. The stores (in Newcastle and Glasgow) grew out of a social media personal shopping service and that kind of personalised sourcing service still informs what they do.
Office, Eldon Square
If you're on the lookout for some fashion-forward footwear, you can't go wrong with a visit to Office in Eldon Square. Perfect for style-conscious shoppers, Office sells a range of high-quality, unique products and its Newcastle branch sells everything you could need - from sporty and casual styles to formal and glam footwear, plus a range of accessories like bags, socks and hats.
Foot Locker, Eldon Square
Claiming to be the biggest global athletic footwear and apparel chain the world, Foot Locker certainly occupies a well-deserved place in sneaker culture. Stocking dozens of brands including all the biggest street/sports crossover titans like Nike, Puma, Converse and Adidas, Foot Locker can send you back out into the city rocking the latest high-concept spaceship-looking kicks or some chunky, funky skate shoes.
Russell & Bromley, Fenwick
Russell & Bromley has nearly a century-and-a-half’s experience as a luxury footwear and accessories supplier, and while they’ve kept abreast of changes, they’re still very much about iconic, quality, beautifully made leather products. Whether you want some sleek Chelsea boots, some platform Mary Janes or a super-stylish tote, Russell & Bromley will offer you a premium service and a high-end result.
Clarks, Eldon Square
Clarks occupy a special place in the nation’s high street psyche, a veritable high street institution. Most people can remember being taken into a Clarks to get measured for a new pair of school shoes and two hundred years after the first Clarks slipper, their position seems unchallenged. From smart to casual, street to pitch, school to office and beyond, Clarks will have exactly what you need from their own ranges or the other brands they stock, and still offer the measuring services and more that built their reputation.
Dune, Grainger Street
A newcomer to Newcastle, London-born footwear brand Dune set up its Grainger Street store in early summer 2023. It's the place to head for trend-led footwear and sells a range of luxurious yet affordable shoes and accessories for both men and women - from shoes, sandals and boots to bags, purses, belts and sunglasses - and every product features Dune's expert craftwork, meticulous attention to detail and timeless style.
Choosing the right footwear might be the most complicated clothing decision we ever make (an ill-fitting shirt or baggy pair of jeans likely won’t cause you pain!) and there’s all manner of shops catering to some very specific demographics. But whether you want some space-age kicks or some elegant loafers, Newcastle has some very fine shoe shops indeed.
