Cheaney Shoes at Old Spitalfields Market

Craig of That Dapper Chap visits Cheaney shoes in Old Spitalfields Market and takes advantage of a hand shoe shine.

With over 130 years of shoe making experience under their belts Joseph Cheaney & Sons are a well respected heritage British brand. With 120 staff hand making shoes at their factory in Desborough, it's great to see that the UK can still have a thriving industry like this and I am hugely supportive of it, hence my desire to share it with you.

So, during my recent visit to London's Old Spitalfields Market I stopped off at the Joseph Cheaney & Sons store on Brushfield Street, not only to paw over the beautifully made shoes, but to get a finger polish from the store Manager Ian Bartlett. Barty (as he is known to his friends) knows a lot about shoes and the history of Cheaney, so while I browsed he shared details of their rise and fall through the decades to where they are now.

The Spitalfields store aside, you'll also find stores in Covent Garden, Bow Lane, Jermyn Street, Lime Street, The Leeds County Arcade and in Cambridge in Rose Crescent. But if you're in Old Spitalfields Market feel free to pop in and say hello to Ian.

To celebrate 130 years in the industry a new '130 last' was made and the latest collection made from this last was displayed proudly in the store in five classic styles.

It would be rude not to try some shoes while on my visit so after measuring my feet using a traditional measuring stool, Ian found me a pair of Avon Wingcap county brogues in burgundy calf leather. They fitted like a glove and felt like mine in the short time that it took the leather to warm to my feet. It was a shame to give them back after my old shoes were polished!

Shoe shining is all part of the deal when you become a Cheaney customer and Ian can give your Cheaney's a quick buff and polish while you wait, or he can give them a new lease of life and give them the full treatment and a mirror shine over the course of a couple of days, to keep them in tip top condition.

Alongside the more traditional Brogues, Derby's, Monks and Oxfords, Cheaney also offer some great military style boots which are dedicated to Flight Lieutenant Joseph Humfrey Cheaney who served his country during the second world war. The boots are again handmade and are lined with sheepskin.