Thank you for the tip, I will definitely keep that with me when we go! I have seen pictures of pointe shoe fittings from one of the shops near me and they just don't look right. Now I'm no expert but I know the shoes are supposed to look like an extension of the foot, close fitting but obviously not too tight. On these pics there's a lot of bagginess round the back of the heel where the shoe isn't even touching the foot and rippling bagginess down the sides. They look like they're hanging off the back of the heel all bunched up. It's totally put me off even venturing there.
Thanks for the recommendation for the place in Liverpool too, that's also not too far. In fact we're going to Liverpool soon to get prom shoes for my other daughter so I could possibly make an appointment for that day while we're there.
I think Barnums and That's Entertainment sound like great places to try