A good pair of shoes is worth looking after. That sounds obvious, but plenty of people walk past a cobbler every week and never go in — either because they assume repair is expensive, or they are not sure what can actually be fixed.
We handle shoe repairs at our shop on Arlington Way, a short walk from Angel tube. Heels, soles, leather work, polishing — if a shoe is worth saving, we will tell you what is possible and what it costs before any work begins.
Heels take the most punishment. They wear unevenly, they chip on kerbs, and on harder pavements like the ones around Upper Street and Chapel Market, they go down faster than most people expect.
We replace heels on men’s and women’s shoes. For men’s shoes, a full heel replacement is £20.00. If the heel needs building up — common on shoes where the wearer’s gait puts more weight on one side — that is £25.00. Women’s heel replacement starts at £15.00 for standard heels, and £25.00 for high heels three inches or taller, which require more precise work to maintain the angle and balance of the shoe.
Our heel repair service in Angel covers most standard shoe types. If you are not sure whether the heel can be replaced, bring the shoe in. We check it and tell you.
The sole is the part of a shoe that does all the real work. When it goes, the shoe usually goes with it — unless you get it replaced before the upper is compromised.
We offer several sole options depending on the shoe and what you need it to do. For men, a half leather sole is £55.00 and a full leather sole is £85.00. Leather soles are quieter, breathe better, and suit formal shoes well. If you want something more durable underfoot — better grip, more resistance to wet pavements — a stitched rubber sole is £40.00. A stick-on sole, which is a good option for lighter use, is £30.00.
For women’s shoes, a stick-on sole is £30.00, a rubber sole is £35.00, and a leather sole is £45.00.
SATRA Technology, the UK’s leading footwear research and testing body, has published extensively on how sole material affects both comfort and longevity in everyday footwear. Their work is worth reading if you want to understand why leather and rubber soles behave differently in wet weather.
Our sole replacement service in Angel covers most shoe styles. We will advise on which material suits the shoe before we start.
Leather shoes age in different ways. Some develop cracks along the toe box. Others scuff badly on one side from brushing against steps or furniture. The upper can come away from the sole at the welt. Most of these problems are fixable.
Our leather shoe repair service in Angel covers stitching, bonding, and structural repairs to leather uppers and welts. We also deal with the kind of slow separation that happens along the inside seam when a shoe has been worn hard for a long time. The key thing is not to leave it too long. A small separation fixed early stays small. Left for another few months, it becomes a much bigger job — or stops being fixable at all.
Bring the shoe in and we will look at it. If the repair is straightforward, we will tell you what it costs. If it is not worth the money relative to what the shoe is worth, we will say that too.
The top piece is the small insert at the very bottom of a heel — the part that makes direct contact with the ground on every step. It wears down faster than the heel itself and is much cheaper to replace. Men’s shoe top piece replacement is £25.00.
Replacing a top piece regularly is one of the best ways to extend the life of a good pair of shoes. Once the top piece is gone and the heel itself starts taking the impact, the repair becomes more involved and more expensive. If you notice a clicking sound on hard floors, or the heel feels lower than it should, the top piece is usually the first thing to check.
A good polish does more than make a shoe look presentable. It conditions the leather, fills minor surface scuffs, and adds a layer of protection against water and dirt. Our shoe polish service for men’s shoes is £15.00.
Our shoe polishing service in Angel covers a full clean, condition, and polish to a professional finish. If you have a pair of shoes that have been sitting at the back of a wardrobe or have come out of a season looking dull and dry, a proper polish can bring them back significantly. This is not the same as a quick pass with a cloth — we work the product into the leather properly, buff it out, and return the shoe with a finish that lasts.
This is the question most people ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on the shoe.
A well-made leather shoe — the kind that has a proper welt construction and a thick upper — is almost always worth repairing. These shoes are built to be resoled. A decent pair of men’s Oxfords or brogues can be resoled multiple times over a lifetime. The cost of a full leather sole at £85.00 makes sense when the shoe itself cost several hundred pounds and has years of wear left in the upper.
Cheaper shoes with bonded construction and thin synthetic uppers are different. Sometimes the repair costs more than the shoe is worth to replace. We will tell you honestly if that is the case. There is no point spending money on a repair that is not going to hold.
As a rough guide: if the upper leather is solid, the stitching is intact, and the shape of the shoe is still good, it is almost certainly worth repairing. If the upper is cracking through or the shape has collapsed, it probably isn’t.
We repair men’s and women’s shoes in most styles — Oxfords, brogues, loafers, Chelsea boots, ankle boots, court shoes, and high heels. We do not handle trainers with fused synthetic soles, heavily worn children’s shoes, or shoes where the upper damage is beyond what repair can address.
If you have a pair that you are not sure about, bring them in. A quick look takes two minutes and costs nothing.
We are on Arlington Way in Angel, EC1R — a two-minute walk from Angel tube station on the Northern Line. Customers come in from Islington, Clerkenwell, Pentonville, Finsbury, and King’s Cross throughout the week.
No appointment needed for shoe repairs. Drop the shoes off, we assess them, give you a collection date, and contact you when they are done. Turnaround on most repairs is two to four working days depending on what is needed. If you are up against a deadline — shoes for an event, boots for a trip — let us know when you come in.
We have been in Angel since 2013. Shoe repairs are a regular part of what we do, and we take the same care with them as we do with everything else that comes through the door.
How long do shoe repairs take?
Most repairs are ready within two to four working days. Heel replacements and top pieces are often quicker. More involved sole replacements or leather work may take a little longer. We give you a specific collection date when you drop off.
Can you repair high heels?
Yes. We replace heel tips and full heels on women’s high heels, including stilettos and block heels. High heels over three inches are priced separately due to the additional work involved in keeping the balance right.
Do you repair boots as well as shoes?
Yes. Chelsea boots, ankle boots, and knee-high boots are all handled. The same heel and sole services apply. Bring the boots in and we will assess what is needed.
Is it worth repairing cheap shoes?
Sometimes, sometimes not. A cheap shoe with a worn heel tip is usually worth a quick fix. A cheap shoe with a split upper or collapsed structure probably isn’t. We will tell you which is which before we take the job on.
Do you repair trainers?
We do not handle trainers with fused synthetic soles, as these cannot be resoled in the traditional sense. Some leather or suede trainers with separate soles can be assessed — bring them in and we will have a look.
Explore our Shoe Repair services in Angel: Heel Repair, Sole Replacement, Leather Shoe Repair, Shoe Polish Service, Boot Repair. Or browse our full services list.
Guides & Advice: Can Leather Shoes Be Resoled? · How Much Does Heel Repair Cost in the UK? · How Much Does Leather Shoe Restoration Cost? · How Much Does Shoe Repair Cost in the UK? · Is It Worth Repairing Shoes in the UK? · Should You Resole Leather Shoes? · What Is the Difference Between Half Sole and Full Sole Repair?
WhatsApp us
