new Archives - Grey St Optician

Introducing… HUG

All new to Grey Street, Newcastle, the North-East, England, and in fact the whole of the UK! We are delighted to be the first UK stockist of HUG Spectacles!!!

We had heard a rumour that one of our favourite people in the global eyewear industry had something new and exciting up his sleeve. Having worked with Jochen for many years with Reiz (a longstanding GREY ST. favourite) we know his eyewear ideals are well aligned with those of our Grey St. clientelle. We met up with Jochen in a Paris hotel for our first glimpse of HUG spectacles…

He was joined by Thomas, another familiar face from Reiz, and master-craftsman and designer Frederic. The name HUG is made from the initials of the three surnames Hobmaier, Utz and Gotbrod. Very simple, but with a literal meaning: an embrace is both beautiful and fitting, reflecting a way of working and conveying an attitude.

The glasses have a simplicity too. Nothing fancy, just timeless and unique frames, beautiful shapes, great materials, master craftsmanship, and a lot of love for every detail. There is a luxurious feel to the acetate and the hinges, and temple inlays are of the highest quality. HUG have made stunning glasses with some of the highest production standards we have seen. We knew we were bringing them back to Grey Street!

While designing, Fred listens to old blues classics, which first became working titles for the frames and then eventually developed into the model names..

HOOKER

In homage to John Lee… Could you find a cooler pair of shades?!

PEEBLES

Tribute to Mrs Ann Peebles. We love this shadowrose colour!

BESSIE

Her majesty Bessie Smith, empress of the blues! Also comes in a larger size, big Bessie!

JOHNSON

Tribute to the late, great Robert Johnson. Available as sunglass or optical. Has a smaller brother, little Johnson.

PATTON

Shadow colourway with gold details. Blues musician Charley Patton.

MCTELL

Your everyday companion!

There are many more styles and colours available. The best way to see the full collection is to let us know when you are coming, by booking a frame consultation here: https://www.greyst.co.uk/appointments/

We can’t wait to give you a HUG!

https://www.hug-spectacles.com

Rachel scheffer

13:36 11 Aug 23

I have just had an utterly brilliant morning with Frederike choosing new eyewear. The professionalism was brilliant and it was also lots of fun. Frederike was happy to give her opinion and explain why and also expertly pulled plenty of frames out for me to try. It was brilliant.

Carolyn Hutchinson

21:47 18 May 23

Unbelievably good service and expertise. I was a bit wary of all of the five star reviews (it isn't normal to have no bad reviews) but since visiting and getting my new glasses, I can understand why. Will definitely use again and would urge anyone else to go here rather than Specsavers.

Adrian B

18:32 10 Dec 22

'1st pair of glasses stress'....completely disappeared when I chose to walk in this beautiful store I had passed hundreds of times when in Town - I had scoured the 'big chains' (because that's what you do, isn't it?!), all so frustratingly 'similar' - not so at Grey St, such an original and stunning selection of frames.The 'independent' nature of Grey St reflects in their amazing staff, and Becks (now my Ocular Guru!) is just excellent. She took her time with the 'rookie', got my thoughts on some styles, and I loved the "Give me 5 minutes..." as she went 'out back' and returned with Exactly what I had wanted to achieve!She made the collection, only days later, such a wonderful experience too and the 'skull grip' fitting I had hoped for was truly bespoke and perfect. In hindsight, that I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process speaks volumes...Becks, thank you so much!

Zubair Mirza

18:42 06 Dec 22

Grey St Independent Opticians is very much like the Apple Store of opticians. Clean, simple, excellent customer service & more importantly fast and efficient after sales maintenance/repair services.All in all they take good care of their customers, with a huge curated catalogue of frames and lenses options. Not to mention the thinnest lenses on the market for someone like myself with a high prescription, this is definitely an important factor when purchasing glasses, couldn’t recommend them more!

David Reece

11:56 07 Nov 22

It's always a pleasure visiting Grey St., not least because of the range of unusual frame designs they source - I just had to have a look at their bonkers 'Theo' range - typical Belgian fun and quirkiness - think Plastic Bertrand meets Rene Magritte! Needless to say I've ordered some and can't wait to receive them.A business is only ever as good as its' people and both Nic and the dispensing staff go that extra mile in giving such good service - thank you!

Ali Graham

17:51 04 Nov 22

World class service, and worth EVERY penny. Treat yourself, and your eyes to the service and care they deserve (why would you want anything less for something as important as your vision!?).Phenominal service from Laura from advice on which frames suited best through to collection. I'll be a customer of this Optician for years to come!

Charlie

16:55 29 Oct 22

Excellent experience! Well designed store, spacious with loads of frames to choose from including some unique ones. Service from the whole team was welcoming throughout with incredibly knowledgable and genuine staff. Big thanks to Frederike & Becks for their help in choosing a frame and consequent fitting service.

Yvonne Brown

13:53 08 Oct 22

I've had a first class service from Nick and his team for a number of years. Their priority is a thorough eye health check, using the latest technology and an indepth understanding of individual need.The unique choice of bespoke frames is amazing and I'm loving my new multi focal contact lenses - no need for reading glasses! Thank you

s y

12:19 24 Sep 22

I always find picking glasses very stressful, however this wasn’t the case at Grey’s. The staff (Becks) are lovely and were brilliant at helping be pick out a suitable pair. Also, the selection of frames is fantastic, loads of stuff you don’t tend to get anywhere else, ranging from classic designs to more eye-catching stuff. Definitely recommend!

Simply Vic

14:17 14 Sep 22

It's not a norm to get people that truly love what they do for a living and are passionate about making customers part with the best eye care and overall experience. The customer service has been top-notch and I want to thank Frederike for her attention to detail and professionalism always. Grey St. Independent optician truly deserves more than 5 stars.

Adrian Cheesman

13:07 06 Sep 22

If you are looking for a bespoke top quality pair of glasses you need to visit Grey St, excellent glasses and excellent service 😊

Jan

15:28 20 May 22

Second time I got a frame from this optician. LAURA gave me excellent advice and got a very good selection of glasses out of her draws, fitting what i was looking for.The service was knowledgeable, personable, patient and professional.This shop is highly recommended.I also got an eye-check by Nick (?). He again was very patient and took a lot of time to get my prescription right. He also discussed various options with me explaining the pros and cons.Looking forward to my new glasses.THANK YOU

Sue Pethy

17:44 25 Apr 22

A fabulous range of frames that you won't find at the run of the mill opticians! The eye test was really thorough, and the team are so friendly and helpful, creating a lovely environment to choose some really special glasses!

Natasha Maddison

08:55 09 Apr 22

Fantastic service, I genuinely felt you wanted me to have the very best specs, knowledgeable , not pushy, thank you for a great experience x x

Holden Rasmussen

18:38 07 Apr 22

Becks and Fredericke were extremely helpful and welcoming. It's clear they care about the function and style of the frames they carry. I'd highly recommend them over other opticians.

Danny Graham

14:12 28 Mar 22

I visited Grey St on Saturday for a frame consultation as my current frames are a little passed their best.My appointment with Becks was great and she was more than happy to share a tonne of options and wait while I took my time to try them all.The choice on offer was amazing and I'm delighted with my Masunaga frames, I can't wait to pick them up in a few weeks!Thanks again to Becks and the team!

Gail Lowdon

20:15 23 Mar 22

A personal service delivered in a friendly and professional manner I was made to feel welcome and in no way was rushed to make choices and decisions when choosing frames and the advice given was very welcome. Definitely would recommend

Jodie Burn

15:20 19 Mar 22

Fantastic place with great staff and selection of frames. It pleasure choosing new glasses with such helpful and lovely people. The eye test is thorough and everything is so well explained. Just a 5 star place that I would totally recommend. Thank you Grey St Opticians!

Buddy Love

16:47 16 Feb 22

I experienced wonderful service today. Laura, who assisted me, was fun, friendly and helpful. She really went the extra mile and made me feel like a VIP. I cannot wait to collect my new specs and feel fabulous again! Thank you.

Chris Hughes

12:53 06 Feb 22

GREY ST. Independent Optician. The Optical Team here know their stuff - a bunch of friendly experts. First Class. Extensive range of bespoke spectacles - on show - in banks of wooden drawers & also other gems squirrelled away in the basement. Feel lucky to have such a shop in the heart of Newcastle. If you are looking for quality spectacles or an eye exam from a Team that love what they do. I would suggest a try here.

Ross Beeson

15:24 24 Dec 21

Lovely team, Becks and Nadia were so helpful with looking at frames and making sure they were the right ones for me. Nick who went through my test was so helpful and explained everything in a very clear and understandable way

Pearl Saddington

18:51 21 Dec 21

This team seriously go above and beyond. Not only do they give excellent professional service, they went out of their way to source replacement frames after I accidentally snapped my specs. They saved me at least £300! This is why we should support the independents. Spec savers eat your heart out and thanks again Rebecca you really are a ⭐️

David Hunt

18:43 17 Dec 21

Amazing customer service from Becks. My first pair of glasses made an enjoyable experience. Couldn’t recommend more

Kamil Bazydło

20:49 30 Nov 21

Had a lovely visit at Grey St. Optician, with a comprehensive eye test, followed by selection of new frames to replace my old ones. Frederike was of great help at providing a lot of choices for the frames, with some good advice. Wonderful staff in a very nice place.

Richard Huggan

14:42 30 Nov 21

Cool shop, great location, and really friendly/professional staff. Got me sorted with my first eye test in almost a decade, a much-needed first ever pair of glasses, and a contact lens subscription. Would highly recommend!

Margaret Walton

08:51 14 Nov 21

I’ve been searching for new frames for quite a while. Popped in to Grey Street Opticians and found the perfect frame. Plus, I’m able to get my sunglasses reglazed too!Laura was brilliant at giving her advice and was really helpful and knowledgeable .Excellent customer care all round.Can’t wait to get my new frames.Thank You.

Nicholle Lee

21:53 13 Oct 21

Had an unexpected but pleasant experience at Grey St Opticians. It's been a while since I got my last eye test but was made to feel comfortable throughout. Nick explained the tests and health checks that were being done, which were both informative and interesting.Huge appreciation to Frederike in helping me choose new frames. I only gave one preference in the form, but she put together a nice selection of similar styles to try on, and even went beyond to suggest shapes I wouldn't have considered. The frame range is extensive and some were very bold and fun to explore. I appreciate her patience (despite me trying possibly 30 frames during the session) and honesty in which styles suit me and which didn't.Also the interior design of the store is very minimalistic and beautiful.Thank you again for the warm and personal experience. Highly recommend to anyone who needs an eye test or new frames, you can't get any better service than this.

Loki the God of Mischief a puglet’s adventure!!!

13:04 01 Oct 21

Laura was extremely helpful, friendly and professional. I couldn’t have asked for more.First time I’m going to be wearing glasses so it’s rather daunting but really enjoyed the experience with Laura. Thanks so much !

Gemma Corking

12:01 24 Sep 21

I can't remember the last time I experienced such amazing customer service as I did at Grey St. yesterday. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish, I didn't realise an eye test could be enjoyable but I was proved wrong and left feeling well informed about my eyes and so excited to receive my new glasses. Couldn't recommend Grey St. highly enough

Amelia

10:57 11 Sep 21

I went to Grey St Optician to do my first ever eye test and get my first pair of glasses.Absolutely amazing experience, excellent service and friendly people. Thank you to Laura for helping me to choose lovely frames within my budget. Can’t wait to collect my glasses. Thank you!

Ash Chapman

15:21 18 Aug 21

I went to Grey St Opticians to get my first pair of glasses; I would recommend the store to anyone. Warmly welcomed and supported throughout, Laura was great help in finding the right shape and style of eyewear. I will definitely visit again in the future.

Richard Witherspoon

00:09 04 Aug 21

Superb excellent service genuinely enjoy their job and dealing with customers not pushy at all

Gayle Watt

20:13 02 Aug 21

Just wanted to say thank you so much for fixing my sunglasses today. I hadn't even purchased from your shop and you helped me out in a time of need 👍 Excellent customer service and I really appreciate it. Thanks so much!!

Ray Chen

22:15 28 Jun 21

Definitely the best glasses ever!Clear thin lens and light fashion frame are combined together with a reasonable price.I have got brilliant service through the whole shopping experience.So,I decided to customise another pair for sports.Best optician in Newcastle!

Chris Nash

15:46 26 Jun 21

Made to feel comfortable as soon as you walk through the door. At every stage of the eye test everything was fully explained to me. Laura made the whole experience of getting my first pair of glasses enjoyable and comfortable!

Suzanne Connolly

15:30 26 Jun 21

Really happy with my new frames - after years of contact lens wearing so good to have glasses I finally enjoy wearing. Gentle prod from lovely staff pushed me and my husband out of our comfort zones to a better place…we will be back!

Annalise

10:43 07 Jun 21

Loved coming here for my eye test. Felt more personal than other places do. Loved that they made sure I knew everything that was happening and why along the way and can’t wait to come pick up my new frames

Andrew Payne

13:12 14 May 21

Went here for my first ever eye test and the staff were amazing.Frederike and Nick carefully explained to me the eye test process and my requirement for glasses.Huge range of choice available and the staff are really helpful at explaining everything. My chosen glasses were initially not in stock but Frederike kept me updated every step of the way and when the glasses were in stock she fitted them perfectly and even gave me some glasses cleaner.Amazing service!Will be going back and recommend to anyone who needs an eye test or glasses.Also the shop itself is cool as!

Sophie Thompson

11:40 11 May 21

Absolutely loved my experience at Grey St Opticians. Transformed the way I buy glasses; unique frames, ethically bought from independent businesses internationally and amazing service. The staff are so warm with excellent sense of style. Would highly recommend.

Thomas Fleming

20:11 10 May 21

I’ve bought multiple frames and lens from Grey St Opticians and every visit has been a pleasure. Super chilled out staff that are very knowledgable and passionate with a fantastic range of frames. It’s honestly my favourite shop to visit, I just wish I had more eyes to buy glasses for! Keep up the good work:)Tom

Suzanne Hardy

19:28 10 May 21

The best opticians, with the most awesome frame choices and knowledgeable and helpful staff I’ve had the pleasure of going to. This team feels like friends as well as opticians. They take the trouble to sort out frame suggestions they know you will like. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Zoe Varley

12:29 22 Apr 21

I had a really lovely experience. My eye test was very thorough and they have a great selection of glasses. The customer service is amazing, everyone if so friendly and helpful, I would definitely recommend them. I absolutely love my new glasses, thank you!

natasha lowes

15:02 13 Apr 21

Love Grey St Optician, everyone is so so so nice, kind and professional. They make an opticians appointment fun, we enjoyed choosing our new glasses! The whole team are amazing.

Caroline Charlton

18:08 07 Apr 21

A lovely, friendly and professional team with a unique and quality selection of frames! Amazing customer service that you would only get with an independent retailer 😊 I felt safe even during my eye test with covid guidelines being adhered to at all times 👍

Neil Graney

11:08 26 Mar 21

Best in the business. Top quality customer service, lots of top quality choice in product

Daisy Bott

19:20 20 Feb 21

I was well overdue an eye test & I am so happy I chose to go to Grey Street. The eye test itself was really thorough and did not feel rushed at all which is something I have experienced in the past. Nic also explained all the tests he was performing and why which was really interesting.It's a beautiful space with some amazing niche frames (all sourced from lovely independent brands which are dotted all over the place).When it came to picking the frames Frederike was so helpful and with me having no idea what type of frame I wanted, I was very grateful for the help in choosing what I can only describe as my dream glasses. Very excited to pick these up & can only say thank you again to the lovely team at Grey street for making the experience such a memorable one.

Rachael Bailes

15:28 11 Feb 21

The most thorough eye exam I've had, with clear explanations and wonderful service from Nic; I felt in very good hands. Frederike was a tremendous help with choosing my frames and lenses. She has a very good eye(!) for frame styles, and made the process enjoyable. I definitely ended up with much better picks than I'd have managed on my own. An all-round fantastic experience.

Andrew Baker

15:54 16 Jan 21

Great independent opticians with a very good selection of designers and styles. Very helpful staff who really take the time to find you exactly what you want even if you're not quite sure yourself. There's a good range of high end designers available here so if you're after something unique and exclusive then this is probably the best place in the North East to get your glasses.

Rachel Brown

20:13 22 Nov 20

I loved my visit here, the eye test was so thorough and high-tech and was interesting to see an image of the layers in my eyes! The staff were super helpful and gave me many frames to try on with helpful advice of which ones suited me! Their covid safety procedures were spot on. I definitely recommend, I can't wait to get my glasses!! Thank you

David Mitchell-Adams

11:40 30 Oct 20

This is a brilliant shop with a huge range of lovely frames from independent brands. You could spend ages in here. Excellent service from Laura! I gave an idea of some styles I was interested in and she pulled together a great selection of frames to try. Settled on some beautiful ones that fit perfectly. Also I found the eye test was extremely thorough.

Robert Gibson

11:08 29 Oct 20

Thanks to Laura and the gang for making my frame consultation and ordering process an absolute dream! I make a point of finding quality frames, and Grey Street Opticians always deliver the goods without fail. Stylish and unique frames to choose from, and the customer service to boot which keeps me coming back all the time. The eye test which I’ve had in the past was also a friendly experience, with the expertise clear to see. 5/5, get your specs here!

Matt Reilly

14:54 03 Oct 20

Grey St Opticians are fantastic. Everyone who works there knows their stuff. My first pair of glasses from them lasted me 10 years. On my recent visit I tried on about 40 pairs of glasses ... And ended up buying the first pair that Becks had handpicked for me! And how’s this for customer service: when I was choosing my glasses, my daughter mentioned in passing that her fifth birthday was coming up soon. When I went back to get my glasses fitted, Becks had a birthday card waiting for her. Wow. Great customer experience. I happily recommend Grey St Opticians to anyone who’ll listen! Cheers to Becks, Nic, Laura and the rest of the team :)

Amy Li

19:23 17 Sep 20

Recently picked up my new glasses from Grey St Optician's which are absolutely gorgeous! As someone who has been wearing glasses for 15 years, the experience of picking out my new frames was absolutely the best time I've ever had at an opticians'. Becks was simply AMAZING to have, listening to my preferences and picking out frames for me she thought I'd like. AND she let me know when frames were too narrow or if she liked one pair over another - I loved getting helpful thoughts of another person who wears glasses. She was so patient as I ummed and ahhed and sent pictures to my friends. Thank you so much Becks - and Laura too who helped fit my glasses to my face when I collected them. I'll be back I'm sure :D

Simeon Ripley

13:28 29 Aug 20

Outstanding service from Nic and team, highly recommended.

Joseph Blackburn

15:36 01 Aug 20

Wow! The best opticians by a mile, unbelievable service from start to finish. I couldn't recommend Grey Street opticians enough. Beck's found the perfect pair of glasses for me from a multitude of fantastic option's, while making the whole experience extremely comfortable and friendly. Beck's really payed attention to the extra details when it came to style, as well as making the lenses the best fit possible. Big thanks again!

Jonny Rayner

07:11 20 Jul 20

Amazing! Cool glasses over the years for me and my friends!

Lesley Rayner

21:13 09 Jun 20

So many people have asked me where I buy my specs! They must like them and so do I.Once you’ve tried their high quality glasses, the fit is so good you would never go anywhere else. Friendly Grey St Opticians know the glasses to suit your face, style and interests and make your choices easy. Definitely give them a try!

Jann Ross

09:27 08 Jun 20

Brilliant opticians. They deliver a great experience every single time. The choice of frames is excellent and not what you would find on the high street. If you are looking for something special, unique and different go here. really lovely people too. Special shout out to Becks and Laura for helping me recently. Thank you!

Eleanor Forsyth

00:20 16 Mar 20

Another great visit to the most instagrammable opticians in the toon! Laura is really helpful with a great eye for which frames will suit different face shapes. She put together a beautiful selection of frames for me that was extremely difficult to choose from! Nic provides an expert eye test with the latest in ocular technology. It's always a pleasure to visit.

Holly Fraser

22:17 01 Mar 20

Amazing independent opticians, with fantastic staff and beautiful array of stylish frames! Everyone was so friendly, all happy to help with any query/opinions on a potential pair of frames. Eye exam was thorough and took less than 7 days for my new glasses to arrive instore.

Sophia Daoudi

09:36 14 Jan 20

Great opticians! Highly recommend!! The front of house staff were really welcoming and helpful, the optometrist I saw was really thorough and there's a fantastic selection of frames to choose from. I wasn't actually sure what style to go for (first pair), and the lovely Frederike helped me choose a great pair of specs that I absolutely love!

Steven Purchase

19:28 23 Dec 19

I have nothing but good things to say about this place. I've been going here for the last 10 years and wouldn't go anywhere else. The team are excellent in every aspect from the eye examination to frame selection and then the pick up. Everyone is super friendly and helpful and they always make me feel welcome Would highly recommend.

Sarah Airey

17:22 14 Dec 19

Fantastic service. Having previously been using another city centre optician, I was so impressed in comparison with the quality of the actual eye test, the friendliness of the staff, and the range and quality of frames on offer. I have been inundated with compliments since I started wearing my new glasses. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others (and do, regularly!).

Tim Parker

06:24 14 Dec 19

Browsed in this store after passing and seeing that it had a great range of specs. Was really disappointed to be pretty much ignored when I went in and not offered and assistance.

Jackson Smith

14:55 16 Nov 19

Crème de la crème. I think Grey St opticians define exceptional customer service and the selection of glasses never fail to amaze me.

Suzanne Davies

12:18 17 Aug 19

Love, love, love my new Lowercase sunglasses from Grey St Opticians! Brilliant customer service for styling and advising on best lens option for my prescription. Very happy.

Chris Mayes

09:20 08 Jul 19

An excellent service all round, from the comprehensive and highly professional eye test, through helping me choose the right frames to final fitting. Lovely, friendly staff who are always welcoming, helpful and above all, professional. I received regular emails to update me on progress and appointment reminders. Couldn't have asked fro a better service - the true value of going to an independent...!

Maria C

13:36 14 Jun 19

Love them! The ladies here are so wonderful and helpful. Very patient and answered any questions I had. Absolutely delighted with my glasses, was so excited to pick them up! Would 100% recommend!!

Tommy H

12:14 13 Jun 19

Fantastic and very welcoming staff. I came in with a vague idea of what I wanted for my glasses in regards to frame, colour etc and I was shown a vast variety of glasses that suited my needs. I also was quickly seen to for an eye test on the day which was brilliant. Highly recommended. Even if you were popping in for a chat about glasses or anything else you'd always be welcome here. Thank you Frederike for being so helpful, kind, finding me the ideal glasses for my mug and for letting waffle on about books!

Harry Kershaw

09:41 24 May 19

The best customer service I've ever received. So friendly and passionate about what they do, offering a huge variety of frames to choose from. I will 100% be using GREY ST. Opticians again.

Kiks

12:43 11 Apr 19

I have heard about Grey St. Optician just by searching in the internet and I’m very glad I have come across them. The staff are very hospitable, professional and they offer service with personal touch. Never had my eyes checked as thorough as they did, they even scanned my eyes. Helped me find the perfect frame and lenses and they are very patient with me as it was very difficult deciding which one as they have a huge range of frames to choose from. They have Loads of artistic and unique frames. If you are looking for frames with character and uniqueness, best place to go to. Worth every penny.

Andy Anderson

11:54 07 Mar 19

The coolest shop in town.... with some really cool brands, the service in this shop is awesome ;-) #Thankyou

Martin James

10:11 24 Jun 18

Upmarket opticians that my partner uses.Very friendly and helpful.Professional, very knowledgable and trustworthy.I don’t wear glasses and can see that they provide a great service.Located near Grey’s monument and monument metro station at the top of Grey Street.

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HUG Spectacles