GORAL Reviews 

242
TrustScore 4 out of 5

4.2

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 56 reviews, reviewers had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the exceptional craftsmanship, noting that the shoes are beautifully made with premium, long-lasting materials that look fantastic. Many consumers also highlight the helpful customer support and the engaging updates provided during the production process. Some reviewers were not happy with consistency, mentioning that sizing can feel a bit unpredictable and varies across different shoe styles. However, some people mentioned experiencing frustrating delivery delays, noting it took quite a long time to finally receive their items. A few other people also felt that certain surprise items did not entirely match their personal preferences.

What people talk about most

Product

Customers consistently note positive experiences with product, highlighting exceptional craftsmanship and... See more

Quality

Customers had positive experiences with quality, expressing deep appreciation for the outstanding materials... See more

Order

Reviewers share mixed feedback about order experiences, highlighting lengthy wait times and significant... See more

Service

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of service, experiencing a wide split in satisfaction. Many customers... See more

Delivery service

People report ambiguous experiences with delivery service, reflecting a wide range of shipping timelines.... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Received my Smugs today, got the ones available through John Lewis with CF Stead leather, much cheaper than the horween leather ones on Gorals own site. Hard to imagine horween leather being worth £10... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First pair of gorals, and I am not dissapointed. The sneakders are a bit uncomfortable at first but they do feel quite nice snug once broken in. I got the mystery box, but looking at an actual pair sm... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I recently purchased the Mellor ll Charles F. Stead Spitfire leather sneakers black sole from Goral Shoes, and I am extremely pleased. The craftsmanship and quality of the leather are exceptional, m... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had high expectations and these sneakers exceded tiempo! These are absolutely fantastic, super comfortable. The only downside is that I would have loved to order a half size down but other than that... See more


Company details

  1. Shoe Factory
  2. Shoe Store

Written by the company

Goral is a Sheffield-based company that designs and handcrafts high-quality shoes and sneakers using premium materials. Our shoes are stylish, comfortable, and durable, suitable for any occasion. We're committed to exceptional customer service and building long-lasting relationships with our customers. Shop with us today to experience the difference high quality craftsmanship can make.


Contact info

4.2

Great

TrustScore 4 out of 5

242 reviews

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1-star

Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 44% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 24 hours

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4.2

All reviews

(242)

56 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Repeated Delays, Refund Issues, and a Failure to Follow Through

I cannot recommend Goral based on my experience.

In September 2025, I placed a pre-order for a pair of Buxton Brass Wire Boots. I understood that the lead times would be long and was prepared to wait. What I was not prepared for was the lack of communication, repeated missed deadlines, and the difficulty of obtaining a refund once I finally decided to cancel.

The order ended up running approximately three months beyond the original estimated delivery date. Throughout the process, I received no meaningful proactive updates and had to repeatedly contact Goral myself to find out what was happening.

Various explanations were provided for the delays, including supplier-related issues and production problems. Whether those explanations were valid or not ultimately became beside the point. As a customer, I ordered from Goral, not their suppliers, and the responsibility for communication and order management remained with them.

After losing confidence in the order, I accepted Goral's offer of a refund. Unfortunately, the refund process became a problem in its own right. The initial refund failed, multiple deadlines were missed, and I was repeatedly assured that the matter would be resolved "soon." Only after escalating the matter through Klarna, preparing legal action, and publicly documenting the issue was the refund finally sent.

Even then, the refund was processed in a manner that left me financially worse off due to fees and currency conversion effects. Goral publicly acknowledged the remaining shortfall and offered to reimburse it. I contacted them regarding the difference and provided the requested information. As of writing this review, no reimbursement has been received and my subsequent attempts to follow up have gone unanswered.

This is particularly disappointing because by that stage the amount involved was relatively small compared to the original order value. The issue was no longer the delay or even the refund itself, but whether commitments made to the customer would actually be honoured.

The most frustrating part of this experience was not the delay itself. Delays can happen, especially with smaller manufacturers and made-to-order products. The real issue was the repeated lack of follow-through. Deadlines were missed, commitments were not honoured when promised, and progress generally only occurred after additional chasing and escalation.

Throughout the process, I remained patient, polite, and willing to work toward a reasonable solution. Unfortunately, patience and goodwill were rarely met with the same level of follow-through.

Potential customers should understand that if something goes wrong with an order, patience alone may not be enough. Be prepared to document everything and actively follow up.

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Goral.

21 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Love your shoes when they fit

Love your shoes when they fit - the sizingn seems to be a little all over the place - have a pair of the high tops in 8.5 reg and they fit perfect - Then I purchased a pair of the mystery box in 8.5 reg and they are too tight, problem is I cant send them back to correct. also have 2 other pair and they fit differently as well.

6 May 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Hello guys

Hello guys, my feeling is (100%)
work is first
materials second
and third is the love for the job,
you are producing the beautiful products, thank you very much

6 May 2026
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Goral Mystery Box - A Gamble and a Test

I'm looking for alternatives to my existing UK footwear manufacturer which has been running into a few quality control issues lately, The Goral "Mystery Box" at £150 (now increased on-site to £160) seemed a chance to sample Goral without committing twice that amount.
For an assumed off-the-shelf product - the item was promoted as a workshop sample - the shoes took over a fortnight to arrive. During that time the order progress on the website never changed - which is little frustrating. In fact, the site still says "It's on its way" nearly a month after they arrived!
The "Mystery" item itself - a pair of green suede sneakers - are fine in themselves. I wouldn't have chosen them but a "Mystery box" is just that and there is some fun in guessing what will arrive. I did specify wide fit but the shoes are barely that and, indeed, run a little small lengthwise. The sneakers seem well made, are surprisingly good-looking and I'm coming to terms with the colour. Hopefully, the fit will sort itself out over time but, overall, I'm not sure whether I'm going to make Goral my go-to brand. Perhaps, in hindsight, I should have gone for a "Mystery Box" as a bonus AFTER ordering a full-price, (specifiable, and returnable if necessary) item.

6 May 2026
GORAL logo

Reply from GORAL

Thank you for writing this, I appreciate you taking the time. The tracking is something I'm sorry for, it's not a good first impression and it's something I'm looking into now.

The green suede sneakers are a great pair and should bed in well with wear. If you'd like any tips on breaking them in or caring for the suede, feel free to drop me an email at katie@goral-shoes.co.uk and I'll be happy to help.

Katie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Love my high top blood core SMUGS

Love my high top blood core SMUGS. Break in was 2 days - a week. Felt comfy after day 2 or 3. Wide 11 UK was still slightly narrow, but wore with wool socks and the leather molded right to my foot after a few wears.

8 April 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had high expectations

I had high expectations and these sneakers exceded tiempo! These are absolutely fantastic, super comfortable. The only downside is that I would have loved to order a half size down but other than that I’m more than happy with these.

6 January 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First pair of gorals: Melnors

First pair of gorals, and I am not dissapointed. The sneakders are a bit uncomfortable at first but they do feel quite nice snug once broken in. I got the mystery box, but looking at an actual pair smugs or buxtons next purchase. Great shoes up there with Jim Greens and red wings.

5 January 2026
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Just received my Mellors back from a…

Just received my Mellors back from a resole. I love these trainers. They’ve worn in beautifully and they always look good, and clean up well. This is the first time they’ve been resoled and I wasn’t sure what to expect. It took 2 weeks to receive them back and I am really impressed with the job that’s been done. They are unmistakably my shoes, but they’re almost like new. They were returned in a new box, each shoe in its own dust bag, and with a pair of spare laces. They had been cleaned and conditioned, shoe trees inserted and just looked pristine yet broken in. I couldn’t be happier. Thank you Goral.

23 January 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful shoes

Beautiful trainers, well worth the price. It’s great to have trainers that not only look amazing but I know are going to last. Service was second to none with constant updates about what was happening with my shoes, they’re made to order but well worth the wait

5 December 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Shoes are made well and shipping was…

Shoes are made well and shipping was pretty fast considering it’s international, I initially got the wrong color soles and because I’m a truck driver I didn’t find out until I got home a month later…they were super friendly and helped me process the return and sent me the correct pair a few months later

4 December 2025
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

False advertising

I ordered Green Horween shoes in early November so they would arrive as a Christmas present. They showed up just in time but the color was so far off from what was advertised that I was sure they were black. Only in extremely bright fluorescent light could I see that there was any green pigment in the leather at all. I returned the shoes bc they were not a color that I would ever wear, and I had to pay $50 to ship them back to the UK. They’re beautifully made shoes and I would have been thrilled to keep/wear them if they were the correct color.

4 December 2025

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