GORAL Trainers
Last updated: 22 October 2026
GORAL trainers are leather sneakers made by hand in a Sheffield workshop and built so the sole can be replaced when it wears out. Every pair is covered by GORAL's lifetime repair guarantee, and the £95 Rebuild+ service fits a new sole, insole and laces. The ROMA, the cheapest leather trainer in the range, costs £245, and footwear ships free in the UK.
What GORAL trainers are
GORAL is a family shoemaker. Franciszek Goral opened a small workshop near Kraków in 1936, and the family moved the business to Sheffield in 2005. Today it runs from Forum House on Spital Hill, a converted college that Princess Anne opened in 2018, according to the Yorkshire Post.
Around 40 craftspeople work there. Most of what they make is footwear for other brands, so the GORAL label is the factory selling under its own name.
The trainers use Blake stitching, which joins the sole to the upper with a single row of stitches. Because of that, the workshop can unpick the old sole without damaging the leather and stitch a new one on.
How the GORAL resole works
- Rebuild+ price: £95, with a choice of black, white or gum outsole.
- What gets replaced: the outsole, the leather insole and the laces. The craftspeople also reshape the shoe.
- Turnaround: usually 25 to 30 working days, plus the post both ways. You pay to send the shoes to Sheffield.
- Eligibility: GORAL footwear that nobody else has repaired. A handful of lines, such as the RESERVE collection, cannot be rebuilt, so check before you post a pair.
Key facts about the GORAL ROMA
- Price: £245 in a regular fit, £260 in a wide (EE) fit
- Upper: full-grain nappa leather and suede from the Italian tannery Mastrotto, unlined
- Sole: a TPS cupsole, stitched on so it can be replaced
- Weight: 500g per shoe
- Colours: black, burgundy, rust and ecru
- Sizes: UK 6 to 13, including half sizes
- Delivery: free on footwear in the UK, sent by Royal Mail
The rest of the range costs more. The MELLOR II starts at £310, and the SMUGS high tops made with Rose Anvil start at £340. Boots run to about £415.
Who GORAL trainers suit
- People who wear one pair until it falls apart: the resole means the upper you have broken in keeps going.
- Anyone trying to buy less: a £95 rebuild keeps one pair going, instead of a new pair every time a sole wears through.
- Fans of British manufacturing: the shoes are made in Sheffield, and you can send them back to the same workshop for repair.
For more presents that last, see our guide to the best sustainable gifts in the UK.
The limits
At £245 and up, GORAL trainers cost far more than a high-street pair. The saving only comes if you wear them for years and pay for the rebuild when the sole goes.
Leather trainers also need breaking in and a bit of care. The ROMA is unlined, so it softens quickly, but a GORAL shoe needs cleaning and conditioning from time to time.
A Rebuild+ takes five or six weeks. If they are your only trainers, you will need something else on your feet while they are in Sheffield.
The range is cut for men's sizes, from UK 6. People with smaller feet will struggle to find a fit.
Where to buy GORAL trainers in the UK
The GORAL shop sells the full range, with free UK delivery on footwear. The workshop also offers a lifetime repair guarantee on every pair, explained on GORAL's lifetime guarantee page. I could not find GORAL trainers on Amazon UK.
FAQs
How much are GORAL trainers?
The ROMA costs £245, or £260 in a wide fit. The MELLOR II starts at £310, and the boots cost up to about £415.
Where are GORAL trainers made?
In GORAL's own workshop on Spital Hill in Sheffield, where around 40 people make shoes by hand.
Can you resole GORAL trainers?
Yes. The Blake-stitched sole can be replaced through GORAL's £95 Rebuild+ service, which also fits a new insole and laces.
How long does a GORAL rebuild take?
Usually 25 to 30 working days once the shoes reach the workshop.
Do GORAL trainers come in women's sizes?
The trainers run from UK 6 to 13, so they suit larger feet. GORAL does not make the ROMA in smaller sizes.
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I checked the prices on GORAL's shop on 22 October 2026. Prices and stock change.
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