Ellis Brigham

Ellis Brigham started life in 1933 as a bootmaker's shop on Conran Street in Harpurhey, Manchester, where founder Frederick Ellis Brigham built a reputation for expertly fitted boots before growing into a full outdoor retailer. Now with 24 shops around the UK, it's still a family business at heart, built on the same idea of knowledgeable staff who genuinely use the gear they sell for skiing, climbing, mountaineering and hiking.

The edit leans heritage outdoor with a strong gorpcore streak, stocking names like Arcade, Blizzard, Buff, CamelBak, Chaco and BMC alongside specialist climbing and ski kit from the likes of Beastmaker, Blue Ice and Cast. It's the sort of shop for proper hill days rather than just looking the part, though it covers that too, with staff who'll happily talk gear over a coffee before you head out.