Norman Walsh UK Reviews 37

Have purchased 3 pairs of trainers previously and was happy with the product.
However, I spotted a tiny label inside my latest pair stating made in CHINA!!
I was suspicious due to the cheap feel of the trainers which felt more like something off the market…
The primary reason I initially chose Walsh was their proudly stating “made in Britain”.
Extremely cross/disappointed (now former) customer.
P Minter.

Trainers are great. Customer Service the worst I have ever received. I returned a pair of trainers due to incorrect size. I had to chase to confirm they received them, then after a couple of weeks I was then told they were not in a re-sellable condition. From this point on comms with customer service was useless, in the end I had to get my bank involved to get a resolution. I hate to say it, I love it that this brand is mostly made in the UK. Avoid

I would not give Norman Walsh one star. Norman Walsh advertises as top notch quality and my experience is the complete opposite. Their customer service is second to everyone. The sole on the pair of running shoes wore out in less than 9 months despite just used for walking. They would not replace the shoes in fact suggested that I should 1. pay £25 to get them to repair them or 2. pay £80 at least for a new pair. I think they work from the pub!!

Wish I’d checked the reviews first! I was looking for fell running shoes and read that Walsh used to be the big name so looked them up. Hand made in England, not too expensive, I ordered a pair of PB Elite. The listing said ‘these run small, order a size up’ but then recommended measuring your feet and checking against the last size. Should have ignored the last bit. From the last measurements, my usual size should have been perfect.
The shoes came, I tried them on briefly indoors, realised they were too small and packed them up to exchange for a larger size.
NW took ages to respond to an email request for a returns form, then they took ages longer to process and reject the return, claiming they showed ‘signs of use’.
The phone number on their contact details is for the factory – customer service is only contactable by email!
Eventually they sent the shoes back to me, suggesting I try brushing off the treads and return them again. I have them back now and have brushed off the little bit of cat hair that was on the soles but it seems incredible they rejected the return on that flimsy basis. If there are any other signs of wear, I didn’t put them there.
Seems likely to be a waste of time to return them again, guess I’ll put them on Vinted. They’ll be a good pair for someone with smaller feet, I’m sure.
Too bad NW are such a nightmare to deal with, I really wanted to support a British brand.

I ordered from Normal Walsh because I wanted to support a UK business. I placed an order on 6th September for a pair of Ensign trainers that it said will ship mid-September. The sizing was confusing, and even though there was a sizing chart, it still said to go one size up, and the size was in EU. By 23rd September I had heard nothing so emailed service at normanwalsh.com who said they were shipped on 19th but offered no tracking information. I emailed again to ask for it, and on 25th received tracking saying the shoes were coming from China! The tracking information did not change at all. After numerous emails the tracking finally changed and I received the shoes on 10th October, but as I’d suspected they were the wrong size, by 1 size.
I was offered an exchange for a UK made model. I had to pay additional £10.50 for the UK ones, and these were “true to size” so I ordered UK 10. I had to pay for the postage return of the Chinese ones, which I only sized up on because the website said to do so, and I paid the additional cost for the UK ones. Then I heard nothing on my exchange and had to email again, to be told the person that deals with exchanges was on holiday for a week. On 25th October I received an email to say the UK 10 were not in stock and would a UK 9 be acceptable!! At this point I gave up and asked for a refund.

The refund was only processed by them on 2nd November (saying it could take up to 10 days). I had to pay the original postage (they will not refund) and the return postage (they will not refund). We’re now 2 months after I placed the original order.
Every single email from the service email starts with ”We hope you are doing well”, it doesn’t feel like it’s from a person that can help, just someone with a standard response. There is no alternate method of contact. When did anyone ever order UK10 shoes and get a response saying they are not in stock is UK9 OK?!

I AM SO DISSAPOINTED WITH WALSH, THE PRODUCT, THE SERVICE, THE WEBSITE (no mention of delivery from China, or UK only filtering).

Purchased a pair of PB Ultra for cross country running.
Not a lot of cushioning so you feel your feet whilst you navigate your chosen terrain - this is a good thing.
I use them for cross country running - would recommend to anyone who is using them for fell running, orienteering or cross country

Bought some trainers and returned them promptly (too big). Then followed a long period of the company not answering their phone or emails. The online shop includes an option to message the customer service team but 10 days in and no one has responded to my repeated requests for contact of any kind. I am now considering employing the services of a solicitor. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. ONCE THEY YOUR MONEY THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PROCESS REFUNDS FOR RETURNED PRODUCTS IN MY EXPERIENCE.
OCT 2025

If I could give a -1 I would . They don’t reply to you at all . I was told my shoes would be despatched after the 18th September, I’ve asked them when after the 18? No reply whatsoever . Where are these shoes coming from ? Total shambles of a company . Avoid ordering from them

Buyer beware. I ordered Ensign trainers from Walsh under the misapprehension they were British made. They aren't. The first text on their website is 'British Heritage'. First image is of a pair of their trainers superimposed over Tower Bridge. Below that is a video reel of footage featuring British people ( or at least not ethnically Chinese) making shoes in a factory with a Union Jack on the wall. The 'Our Story' part of their website bangs on about their British heritage. Wanging on about ' handmade on a traditonal hand last'. I'm a million miles away from a St George flag headbanger but wherever I can I'll try and support smaller local businesses/buy British. I ordered some shoes. It takes them over a week to let me know they've shipped them to me. I check the package tracking only to find the text is in Chinese and the shoes have been shipped to me on a plane from China. At the very least this feels like wilfully misleading advertising and leaves a very sour taste. Having checked back I now see that on the specific page for the shoes I ordered there is a little chinese flag by Origin. Guess I should have checked that eh? I'm sure if I complain to Walsh they'll weasel out of it saying they made it clear. Looking at the rest of these reviews I see other people have had the same issue. So I now have to check Google reviews everytime I buy something from a small British manufacturer? What an enshittified world.

I was convinced by Norman Walsh that all their trainers were made in England.
I feel totally saddened to find that my trainers are coming from China. I truly feel this is miss selling.

Love my red and black Horwich trainers and great they're a British brand. Worn a lot over 2 years and super comfy with v little wear

Lovely looking trainers, I bought the Walsh European and wanted to buy British trainers.

After 6 months they have developed holes in the soles of both trainers. I haven’t worn them much either in this time.

I’ve emailed Walsh but they haven’t bothered to reply.

I won’t order any more trainers from them due to this, such a shame.

I did some research looking for British made trainers. After seeing the search advertising I decided to buy a pair of Alta from Norman Walsh. After a few days of waiting for my delivery, I was dismayed to find out they were being despatched from China. I contacted the company and they explained that despite their misleading advertising, many of their trainers are actually made in China. They refused to refund the delivery costs for my original order and made me pay for the return.

Still no reply from Norman Walsh. If buying British means so much to you, then go ahead, buy British. You'll then be part of a growing number of satisfied (?) customers, who accept shoddy materials and poor workmanship as they do when buying other flimsy products made in 2025. Not all British shoe products are poorly made, though. Edward Green and Trickers produce high quality shoes. Crockett and Jones and Cheaney, John Lobb and Sargeant, Cleverly and G&G all make decent shoes. These Walsh ones are made for teenagers who like to change shoes every season and are afraid of walking a lot.

Am very happy with my expetionally well made and sturdy Horwich trainers from Norman Walsh.

I definitely recommend the company

The best quality materials as well as stylish designs and quality build. Always recommend Walsh's to my friends, have quite a few who are now addicted to collecting them. Have over 30 pairs myself which I've purchased over the last 10 years-ish. Will continue to add more, for sure!

I turned up at their small retail outlet adjacent to the factory and purchased my second pair. My first pair have lasted v well and their trainers are v smart ,if they are good enough for Sunspel to use them ,then that stands well with me ! No concerns with service or quality. Don’t like using the internet for shoes as you can’t try them on ,hence my 1 hr drive to try some.
Will not need to do again as size 10 hasn’t changed and will buy the same again when I need to. I wish this company all the best for the future as wholly British owned business. B Cooke

Duncurin suffers from either a blessing or a curse - as you see it? He is very light on clothing and shoes etc. This is especially true with leisure-ware. A couple of years ago I bought some navy Horwich trainers from NW which despite being worn regularly, still look like new. It struck me, of course blue is the best colour in the world, that I very rarely wear either of my two new pairs of black jeans, nor T-shirts that go with them that remain in the drawer. I have just purchased a new pair of black leather trainers from NW. They arrived within 48hrs and look fabulous. They are comfortable, fit perfectly and of course go with my rarely worn jeans and T-shirt. Norman Walsh, made in Bolton, is an excellent choice for trainers and is now my go to solution for such. Great stuff, keep it up.

After seven months' hard walking of about an hour a day, the shoes have worn out. The sole has separated from the last, and a split has appeared on the right shoe. They are V Ripple leather trainers. After writing and mentioning this to Norman Walsh in my email, it appears from the reply that this is quite normal for a pair of trainers. I am rather disappointed, as I expected them to go through hard wear and tear for a few years, at least. Regarding maintenance, I always keep them clean and I polish them regularly with wax polish and have never been in mud although once or twice they got soaking wet in summer showers.

Fantastic product and customer service. Now on my second pair. Proud to support made in England footwear and highly recommend.