About North Shoes

Welcome to Ricosta by North Shoes. We're North Shoes – a sixth-generation, independent family-run shoe business, and we've been helping people find the right footwear since 1876.

Our story began in the small Lincolnshire village of Haconby, just outside Bourne, when William North, a local boot maker, founded the business in 1876. In those early days, North Shoes made its own footwear, with 12 boot makers working to keep up with demand. By 1914, the business had grown to the point where we could no longer make enough footwear ourselves, and we began sourcing boots from elsewhere.

A lot has changed since then, but one thing hasn't: we still believe in doing things properly and looking after our customers.

Children's feet matter

We believe that good footwear is particularly important when it comes to children's feet.

Children's feet are constantly growing and developing, which is why we believe a good fit, good quality footwear and plenty of comfort really matter. The right shoes shouldn't just look good – they should feel comfortable and give growing feet the space and support they need.

That's why we've always believed in the importance of a proper fitting service. Our shops in Bourne and Stamford offer a traditional children's shoe fitting service, with experienced members of our team on hand to measure, fit and advise.

Why Ricosta?

We've been stocking Ricosta children's footwear for more than 30 years, so we've had a very long time to get to know the brand.

Over those years, we've recommended Ricosta to countless families and have come to know and trust the brand for its quality, comfort and excellent fit.

It's a range we genuinely believe in – which is why becoming the UK's largest stockist of Ricosta and creating a dedicated UK website felt like a natural next step.

When we discovered that the ricosta.co.uk domain was available, and that Ricosta didn't have a dedicated UK website, the idea began to take shape.

And so, Ricosta by North Shoes was born.

Ricosta by North Shoes

We're proud to offer such a comprehensive collection of Ricosta children's footwear, but we also want to be clear about who we are.

We're North Shoes.

We're an independent, family-run business. We have two bricks-and-mortar shops, a team of experienced footwear specialists and a family history stretching back 150 years.

North Shoes is now run by James North, the fifth generation of the North family to run the business, and the next generation is already beginning to make its mark. Two of James's children are already working in the business, while the youngest is still at primary school!

So while the way we sell shoes has changed considerably since William North opened his boot-making business in 1876, we're still a family business at heart.

Experience you can trust

We think there's something reassuring about buying children's footwear from a business that has spent generations learning about shoes and fitting feet.

We love Ricosta footwear. We trust its quality and fit, and we're proud to have recommended the brand for decades.

But we're also proud of our own expertise. Whether you shop with us online or visit one of our stores, you'll have a team behind you who understands children's footwear and genuinely wants to help.

Because for us, it's not simply about selling a pair of shoes. It's about helping children take comfortable, confident steps as their feet grow.