many years ago my grandad used 2 have all is suits made at a tailors called barny goodmans. i can remember him wearing them and they all seemed 2 have massively wide shoulders on them. i sometimes go in the attercliffe liberal club and see 2 chaps always at the bar whom seem 2 be wearing the same quality suits, is this shop stillgoing.

Barney Goodmans is still going strong. I have my suits made there.
They are on Ecclesall Road, town side of the Berkely Precinct.

Staff all worked at original shop but some are getting on a bit.

To have a suit made at Barney Goodmans was the best in Sheffield.

Although their were many ex BG cutters and staff who setup their own businesses making suits in the same styles, BG's was the original shop to really set the standards.

You could always tell a BG suit in the shop's heyday, it fitted perfectly.

Nowadays, even the top taylors seem to make the sleeves too long or leave a 'Leed's Gutter' in the back of the jacket.

You can see these on tv any night of the week.

Happy Days

Had my suit tailor_made at Barneys when I was 15,I am 36 now.Used to be a skinhead in those days-and I still wear it!!!!It is a prince of wales check.

s a lad in the60's I could not afford a whistle and flute from barnys,but I used a good tailor called Vincents who had a shop on the corner of Church St.The shop was just a bare front room with the tailors working in the back room.Two fittings and 4 weeks later and you collected your suit all wrapped up in a brown paper parcel.There was also a tailors on West St,I dont remember the name.There didnt seem to be much trouble in town in those days ,probably the reason was we were all wearing suits that cost a months wages.

Originally posted by Andyman
Barney Goodmans is still going strong. I have my suits made there.
They are on Ecclesall Road, town side of the Berkely Precinct.

Staff all worked at original shop but some are getting on a bit.

Back in the mid 60's there were two tailors of reknown in Sheffield beside Barney Goodmans, one was Kearney's he was behind the Hyperdrome Cinema, the other was Bill Mackley who I believe was an ex Barney Goodman cutter who went into business on his own, he was down in West Bar. I seem to recall.
in those days a tailor made suit with three fittings would cost you around twenty five pounds, which was a pincely sum, but the ends results were stunning and well worth the money.

I had one suit made by Kearney, and two suits and overcoat made by Bill Mackley, and I have never had anything to match them since, they were both tailors of distinction.

Tony Land - tonyland@ozemail.com.au

I had suits made by Bill Mackley and they were the tops as soon as you put one on you knew it had been made for you, it fitted perfectly.

When you got ready to go out in the 60's you felt great wearing the suit, tie, linen shirt and good pair of leather shoes.

My lad scrounged the last jacket I had, he wears it to a pair of jeans.

Bill had twin daughters who were both married on the same day.

I wonder if they are still in Sheffield?

Happy Days!

Who runs the shop these days,is it Ralph Barneys son,or has someone else got the shop.

my father in law (now deceased) stared his trade at Barneys when it was in the city centre somewhere near where Gap is now, he worked there in the 50's and 60's before setting up his own Tailor's at Hillsborough called Frederiks.
He also did many a window display for Barney

Originally posted by mattsmith
Who runs the shop these days,is it Ralph Barneys son,or has someone else got the shop.
The owner retired several years ago, and the staff bought the business and moved to the present shop in Ecclesall Rd.

I used to have suits from Bill Mackley when his shop was at the top of Hounsfield Rd opposite the old Scala cinema,and I had a blazer made in a maroon material,the colour was very avant garde in those days,and I agree with everything said about Bill Mackleys tailoring,I am showing my age now when I say the blazer cost eight guineas(£8.40 p)but boy was it worth it!!!when I went out in it I felt like I was on top of the world, maybe a bit skint from expensive tailoring but who cared!

My mother, Pauline Taylor, worked as a part-time seamstress for Barney Goodman in the early 70's. I remember she used to take us kids down to the shop's basement to see her and the other staff work. I seem to remember the shop being on Pinstone Street or thereabouts? My younger bother, Andrew, was spoilt a bit by the staff. Each visit they would give him a wage packet with a 3d piece in it. He would call it "his wages".

Kevin Taylor.

Barneys was on the front corner of what was called The Arcade on the Moor I think there was a barbers in the arcade too called Lew Bergins.

Originally posted by PopT
I had suits made by Bill Mackley and they were the tops as soon as you put one on you knew it had been made for you, it fitted perfectly.

When you got ready to go out in the 60's you felt great wearing the suit, tie, linen shirt and good pair of leather shoes.

My lad scrounged the last jacket I had, he wears it to a pair of jeans.

Bill had twin daughters who were both married on the same day.

I wonder if they are still in Sheffield?

Happy Days!
My brother was a tailor at Bills,I used to babysit his grandchildren I do not know if Tony was his son or inlaw.He was a great bloke & a gentleman

Remember having a suit made when his shop was above Suggs the sports shop down the Moor in an arcade.

They were by far the best tailored suits in Sheffield but in those days there could be a waiting list!
You could always tell a Barny suit, the arms, where they joined the shoulder didn't have any sort of a ridge like you find from any other tailor.

Originally posted by brooksy
many years ago my grandad used 2 have all is suits made at a tailors called barny goodmans. i can remember him wearing them and they all seemed 2 have massively wide shoulders on them. i sometimes go in the attercliffe liberal club and see 2 chaps always at the bar whom seem 2 be wearing the same quality suits, is this shop stillgoing.
The shop your grandfather used was at the top of the Cambridge Arcade on Pinstone St just up from where the Heart foundation shop is now. You could always tell a Barneys suit because of the perfect shoulders.
When Ernie Wise of Morecambe and Wise started to make a name for himself when he was barely a teenager Barney made a suit for him, it skint Ernie but he considered it money well spent, which it was.

There used to be a little shop on Duke St.
Pardon the expression (Jewish name) I think Mr. Sandler.
A bit cheaper than "Barney's" then around £20 in the fifties.
Exciting times - - the Edwardian influence,and the need to be recognised.

had 3 made at barneys after awhile found a good tailor by the name of goldsmith in carver street anyone remember goldsmiths

barneys was on the front corner of what was called the arcade on the moor i think there was a barbers in the arcade too called lew bergins.

and the el mambo. Owned by ted baker

Barney Goodmans is still going strong. I have my suits made there.
They are on Ecclesall Road, town side of the Berkely Precinct.

Staff all worked at original shop but some are getting on a bit.

Bit OT but would Barney's offer a measuring only service? I've often thought it would be handy to have those measurements to hand.

I got all my suits at Kearney's, he worked for BG originally. Brilliant tailor, absolute top quality. The only thing was they were so well made you had to go to work in 'em at some time or other. A lot of the lads on the buildings, brickies etc; would do that, go in the 'Lion' on Saturday dinner and there we were, sharp suit, gobbo covered boots.

Who runs the shop these days,is it Ralph Barneys son,or has someone else got the shop.

Ralph went to live in Blackpool and sadly died a few years ago

I got my suits from Barneys. Do you also recall the stiff separate collars on shirts which when worn with a suit and tie gave you a smart appearance. I wonder if the YOBS of today were to wear suits and ties it would prevent them from pushing and shoving and then scrapping on the pavements..after all you would not want an expensive outfit covered in muck would you?
Incidentally I got my stiff collars laundered at the Chinese laundry called i think Willy ung or similar. 6 collars for about a couple of bob in the 1960s.....Memories Ah!!

My Father always had his suits made at "Barney's" and when I left school he took me along to be measured up for one . He promised to pay for it and told me to look after it. I was still growing and it only lasted a couple of years before it was too small, but I dare'nt throw it away.

I had a suit & a Crombie made last year at Barney Goodmans on Ecclesall Road. Well pleased with the end product and a pleasure to do business with the two owners. Prices I thought was reasonable, the Crombie being £100 less than the Real thing from Crombie, Meadowhall and made to measure. Fits like a glove and all British cloth.

Quite look forward to those winter funerals now, best dressed man there.

Nice bit of 'darkish' humor in your footnote retired.
I had to smile at Lazarus's piece mentioning Ernie Wise, about him getting a suit at Barny's.
If Eric had heard that, he would've probably said 'He's still got it aswell.'

Ralph went to live in Blackpool and sadly died a few years ago

Yes - Ralph died in 1993; he was 66. I never had a suit made at Barney Goodmans but my dad would never buy a suit anywhere else. He told me Barney was a great bloke who gave his personal attention to every job. Barney lived well into his 80s and died in 1984.

had 3 made at barneys after awhile found a good tailor by the name of goldsmith in carver street anyone remember goldsmiths

l know the tailor you mean he was just below division st on the left, actuallly Joe was a friend of mine and made me a couple of suits but the name was Wildsmith Cheers Arthur

l know the tailor you mean he was just below division st on the left, actuallly Joe was a friend of mine and made me a couple of suits but the name was Wildsmith Cheers Arthur

hi arthur when i used wildsmith he was in carver st. just off west st.not below division st. i left sheffield in 1967/8 so he may well have moved cheers dave b.

I used to have suits from Bill Mackley when his shop was at the top of Hounsfield Rd opposite the old Scala cinema,and I had a blazer made in a maroon material,the colour was very avant garde in those days,and I agree with everything said about Bill Mackleys tailoring,I am showing my age now when I say the blazer cost eight guineas(£8.40 p)but boy was it worth it!!!when I went out in it I felt like I was on top of the world, maybe a bit skint from expensive tailoring but who cared!

Sign I saw in a tailors shop in Nottingham that read 'The sense of being well dressed gives a feeling of inner tranquillity'.When you had a suit on made by Mackleys or Barneys you certainley felt a million dollars.

hi arthur when i used wildsmith he was in carver st. just off west st.not below division st. i left sheffield in 1967/8 so he may well have moved cheers dave b.


The 1973 Kelly's Directory lists "J. Wildsmith, Tailor" at No 11 Carver Street. This is where the car park is now, at the West Street end. In the 1970s there was also a tailor who had a business just round the corner on West Street, on the first floor of a building near the barber's. I can't remember the name, but I do recall having a decent suit made there.

many years ago my grandad used 2 have all is suits made at a tailors called barny goodmans. i can remember him wearing them and they all seemed 2 have massively wide shoulders on them. i sometimes go in the attercliffe liberal club and see 2 chaps always at the bar whom seem 2 be wearing the same quality suits, is this shop stillgoing.

Still there - go and get yourself measured up! Ecclesall Road, if you leave the city centre and get to Tescos, you've gone too far up!

I remember going with my dad when he had a suit made for him in the early 70s. Can't remember where it was but there was a stuffed alligator in the shop. Does this ring any bells with anyone?

many years ago my grandad used 2 have all is suits made at a tailors called barny goodmans. i can remember him wearing them and they all seemed 2 have massively wide shoulders on them. i sometimes go in the attercliffe liberal club and see 2 chaps always at the bar whom seem 2 be wearing the same quality suits, is this shop stillgoing.
used to be at the top of the Moor RH Side going up. Good suits in their day. son ralph took over I think. Guess its no longer running. Ralph was a big party boy and drove a MK 2 Jaguar automatic. Gunmetal silver with red interior. Yes I bought it many many years ago. I bought my suits from Hepworths. Cheaper and more modern.. THAT WAS THEN.
pjk

I actually have a virtually unused Crombie coat in my wardrobe. It was made by Barney Goodmans in November 1954. It's in immaculate condition. In that quality of cloth, I doubt very much if it could be bought for less than a grand at todays bespoke prices. I'm not in the area, otherwise I would have take it along to the shop for them to see how they used to do things! I guess it's just a collectors piece now. An amazing coat.

A sign on the window of the shop on Ecclesall Road says that the business is closing in June 2010.

I had clothes from there and was a spived kid hi hi.

For an old fashioned ( in the best way) tailor try Gary Shepherd at Calver his place is about four miles out of Baslow on the way to Eyam. His shop is a tiny one roomed affair with gary and his wife making the suits from scratch, I have had some really good clothes frm them. Not cheap but very good value for money.

Reading these posts reminds me of when I was young and men were men and they dressed in suits and collar and ties and you could always tell who had taken the trouble and spent money to look smart.
I still see a few of them knocking about these days they are all of a certain age now but they have not lost that special something that stands them apart from the crowd and they still have manners and are polite where ladies are concerned.

There used to be a little shop on Duke St.
Pardon the expression (Jewish name) I think Mr. Sandler.
A bit cheaper than "Barney's" then around £20 in the fifties.
Exciting times - - the Edwardian influence,and the need to be recognised.

Yes, he was a good bit cheaper. Off the rack stuff mostly. Specialized in kids' suits in the days when kids used to wear them. That store went bk to at least the thirties as I remember seeing it listed in Kelly's Directory. My grandad bought me a suit there once.

Barney Gs? I could never afford their suits and had to go to Burton's. Quite a difference in quality though.