The London Lounge

I discovered this small shop, selling RTW shoes, on wimpole street.

I bought a pair of Aurthur Seargent oxfords with a rubber sole - as good sturdy winter shoe. Never heard of the maker before but Northampton based and seemingly good construction. Other makes stocked and all very reasonably priced. These shoes cost less than the repair to a pair of JL brogues picked up the same day!

Horses for coarses though!

I assume that you are referring to ALFRED SARGENT, a well known manufacturer in Northamptonshire. The firm makes shoes under its own brand name and for other brands.

John Ruxton is known for selling Northampton brands at a discount, sometimes seconds. Did you a purchase a pair of seconds?

You are absolutely right about the name of course. I was writing in the airport and trying to remember the name. Serves me right!

It would be not unlike me to have bought seconds without realising! But there are certainly no very obvious faults.

If you cannot see any faults, then you got a good deal. As a fellow Scot, I like a bargain myself and recommend the factory shops in Northampton for some spectacular bargains.

what factory shops are there in northampton? which are the best ? I have sort of a normal foot, do they have a pretty good stock in the mid range?

Lobb, C&J, Trickers and Churches all have factory shops (C&J only opening on Friday afternoon). I have only used Lobb and theIr choice of size 9 shoes Is pretty good but not complete. If you live in England well worth the saving though.

I too tend to look in John Rushton whenever I am passing as there is often something that suits me at a very good price.

culverwood wrote:Lobb, C&J, Trickers and Churches all have factory shops (C&J only opening on Friday afternoon). I have only used Lobb and theIr choice of size 9 shoes Is pretty good but not complete. If you live in England well worth the saving though.

I too tend to look in John Rushton whenever I am passing as there is often something that suits me at a very good price.

C&J's factory shop is open on a Saturday morning too.

Some of you may like to know that there are some C&J custom models on sale from Robert Old. I ordered a pair of the dress boots they had on there but which they have since sold out of (not bad I thought for 160 GBP).

http://www.old.co.uk/acatalog/_Bin_Ends___.html

Is someone able to help me with a question;

When Trickers have their sale, they offer a slightly esoteric selection of shoes. Am I right in thinking that they transport some (all?) of their factory shop stock to London for this purpose, and at similar prices?

The question is partly led by what I was told by a salesman in the C&J store at sale time - that the stock and prices were the same as those at the factory store during the rest of the year. Again, if someone could confirm this too I would be appreciative.

Many thanks in advance.

Trickers' sale shoes are around £140 to £150. The sale stock, IMHO, are no longer top quality - e.g. no channeled soles, slightly inferior leather. You get what you pay for.

C&J sales prices in the stores are about £40 to £60 above the factory shop prices.

Bishop - thank you for that confirmation, I suspect a trip to Northampton on a Friday afternoon will be in the pipeline...