This is one of the many shops like these in the UK and one which specialises in running…read more It has a massive selection of different styles of running trainers, clothing for men and women. I like going to this place for my sportswear because it is a lot cheaper than other sports stores like JD or JJB. They have major sports brands here like Adidas, Nike and Reebok so you know you are getting good quality stuff. This shop has been running for over 36 years so you know it is a good place. The staff are excellent here and will help you in whatever you are looking for. In particular running shoes to suit your shape etc. Take a look at their website for more information and to order goods too.

It's called Run North West now btw. Excellent service which…read moreyou just don't get off the internet. Went to the trouble of getting the right size for my daughter. Was £1 more expensive than the cheapest on eBay, no brainier really. Highly recommended

It can and is often the case that with chain stores, of any nature, you lose identity. The brand…read morename just becomes the same old same old store and you get a bog standard experience, whether you like it or not, that you come to expect. Well Lululemon is different! Much different in fact, because although you are still shopping with a vastly successful Canadian athletic apparel company, you gain a sense of connection to the place. They do an unbeatable job of community engagement and offer loads of free activities and educational classes for people, not bad from a shop that sells Yoga pants. They do have a fantastic range of athletic wear and it is by far the best quality products I have ever worn. I've had a pair of their shorts for 3 years and they look and feel brand new. What I love most about this place though is the social vibe the staff exert. Whether you're going in looking to spend £1000 on leggings or just fancy a chat with a friendly face, they are welcoming and will invite you back for a coffee and a natter whilst you are amazed by the excellent products on offer!

I am changing the review to one star. It already happened at least two times, when something is…read morewrong with the product, but according to store manager it's ok (in one of the cases I was able to get money back from the manufacturer). So, according to Blacks manager of the store it's perfectly fine when water bottles are falling out of rucksack on somebody's head. While this store is closing, I have no doubt Blacks will re-employ this wonderful understanding woman.

There are just so many outdoor-type shops on Deansgate, it's an absolute miracle that they all…read moremanage to stay in business? How do they do it? There must be at least six or seven. Ridiculous. Anyway, Blacks is absolutely similar to the rest of them. On the ground floor is where you'll find all the expensive but amazingly waterproof hiking jackets. Not even an ocean of water could get through these heavily gortexed items. Unfortunately, for protection like this you're going to have to pay for it to, and a jacket from Blacks could set you back as much as £200. This is serious clobber for serious hiking action. They do have some cheaper options, you'll just have to search a bit for them. Just like all the other outdoor stores on Deansgate, Blacks has a humungous basement which is where they stock all of their speciality outdoor pursuit gear. Like climbing equipment, hiking boots and camping stuff. This is an excellent shop, but just as excellent as all the other outdoor shops around this area.

DW Sports was founded in 2009, owned by former Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan, which started…read morewhen Whelan purchased 50 JJB Sports stores, when they went out of business, and due to a lack of stores, I actually have not visited one of their branches in 7 years since they have been founded, so was excited to visit this store today. The store did look quite nice, it seems more of a Sports Direct type shop, and not a brand in particular, but still unlike Sports Direct it didn't seem to have any sort of sales on, which meant the prices were sky high, which left me not wanting to look around at all, which made it seem more like Harrod's but not of a nicer, luxary kind. For example a pair of Adidas pants could set you back by £40 - £50 when a similar pair could even be on offer, or at least 50% cheaper at Sports Direct, they seemed to stock sports gear and not many high end, designer gear despite charging the prices you would associate with them. The staff didn't seem too helpful, or to acknowledge me, there only seemed to be a few members of the staff at the till and that was it, even when I was looking right next to the till I wasn't acknowledged, this was a shame. The store does look quite nice and a big size, in the rater large Peel Centre Retail Park, with reasonable pricing I could go up to a generous 3 stars but due to pricing being high end for products which aren't, a lack of excitement around the store and staff being poor, I sadly feel this place only warrants a single one star.

DO NOT ORDER ON LINE!!! I paid 16.58 extra for 2nd day fed X. 3 days later they will not respond…read moreto my email request. Good luck Suckers!!!!!

In my ongoing quest for a buff beefcake body I thought it was about time I fixed myself up with…read moresome super fly trainers to match my swanky new gym membership... seeing as the previous shoes I had really were not made for anything more than fashion and my ankles were buckling badly! So the good news is that with my wife's direction I made the visit down to Up&Running to go on their in house treadmill and video set up to get a full analysis of what sort of shoes I need for the way my legs move. Wow - what service, after trying about 5 different shoes on and being filmed each time - I found the perfect pair. Maybe slightly more than I was hoping to pay at £80 but they did throw in a free shirt, shorts and socks which was cool so at least I'm now Up&Running (if you excuse the pun...) A really friendly bunch of guys who were helping me and a very professional service. This is one thing I was pleased to not just do online as they really measured me properly and made sure I had the right ones before leaving the store. Definitely check them out if you're needing new kicks for the gymnasium!

Have been meaning to review these guys for a while ever since I bought my trainers here…read more Unfortunately due to having size 8.5 feet I'm pretty constrained when it comes to shoe choice in general and I in particular had very limited colour options which means I now have some horrible 'raspberry' coloured trainers. On the plus side they are good quality ASICS which the helpful staff member dug out of the sale rack - says a lot that they would point me in the direction of discounted shoes to ensure I had the best fit (8.5 being in scarce supply on the full price options). Overall there's limited stock here and I was a bit disappointed I didn't get more advice and use of the running machine to identify a suitable pair, which was basically because there was only one staff member on duty on a quiet afternoon when several people unexpectedly turned up at once (contrast my experience with Jonny's - it might be worth going back another time if you turn up and it's busy). Still you can't go too wrong with ASICS and I noticed when I popped back recently to get a sports bra that of the limited selection they have of bras they also basically just stock the best brands. So while the stock they offer is limited they do seem to have selected the best available, as far as I can make out. Again the (different) staff were extremely helpful and friendly and not at all intimidating to the beginner/intermediate level runner. It's also a very convenient location on Deansgate so easy to drop by if you're in town.

Manchester is surrounded by so much amazing countryside, with the great expanse of the Peak…read moreDistrict just a few miles away. It figures that there should be some serious outdoor shops in Manchester's city centre. At first, you would think Cotswold was just a place to buy well made and nice-looking hiking jackets, jumpers and fleeces. If you go beyond the small ground floor you'll soon find that there's an expanse of gear to be found in the basement and on the first floor. Downstairs in the basement, they stock professional climbing gear with helmets, karabiners and ropes all on display. They've got a great selection of maps and videos as well. Upstairs is the place to buy a force-10 gale storm proof tent, if that's what you need. On the stairs down to the basement I found a couple of notice boards, where staff had posted pictures and info about themselves and the outdoor activities they specialised in. It was a nice touch and goes a long way to prove that Cotswold is all about getting out and having real fun in the outdoors with great hiking and climbing gear to do it with.

Home from home, split over 3 floors Cotswold is one of my favourite places. With a good mix of…read moreevery bit of outdoor kit you could need and friendly staff who will endure to go into minor detail of the pros and cons of a variety of equipment. The basement has all your clothes, boots, climbing harnesses, DVDs (I'm just listing equipment). Additionally Cotswold invests time in its clients; because of this you have 20% discounts for university climbing members and the lark. All very nice of them. If you listen to recent weather reports anyway it would seem that alpine clothing is going to see a sharp rise in purchases. Long live Cotswold that's what I say.

Hmmm not sure where to start with this one but i will try and be positive if possible…read more First and foremost the cost of Steve Baggot's repairs are fair but his attitude leaves a lot to be desired, i have sent people his way but most of them have come back and said how bad his attitude is. When i asked them to elaborate they said he is more interested in gossiping outside rather than showing any interest in his customers. As i alluded to earlier he does offer a fair price but theres not much to compare him too and when i sent my nephews bike in he actually took nearly a week to replace 2 wheels, not sure if him locking up earlier than he advertises has anything to do with it. He does do sales but basically he will just show you a catalogue and he orders it in. I have to say that his prices are reasonable on sales also, i paid £200 for 3 kids bikes which is not bad. All in all not a bad place but think it could be better, in particular the service. A bit of competition is what is needed i think.