Published on 16th Jul 2025
PATS is back, bigger and better than ever with a brand new home!
Excitement is building for PATS 2025, which takes place at the NEC Birmingham for the first time. The Pet & Aquatics Trade Show will be staged in Hall 1 over three days from Sunday, 28th September through to Tuesday, 30th September 2025.
Following a record-breaking PATS 2024, which saw the largest ever increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers, the 2025 event is set to offer companies even more opportunities as it moves to the UK's largest exhibition centre.
Here, Event Director Gordon Thomas provides an insight into what makes PATS such an unmissable event.
Why is PATS a must-visit exhibition for pet retailers and buyers?
PATS is THE place where the pet and aquatics trade meet to do business with all the leading brands exhibiting. There will be so much to see and do over the three days of the show.
How many companies and brands will be exhibiting at PATS 2025?
The move to the NEC means that over 400 exhibitiors can be accommodated in the centre's Hall 1 and more of the latest launches can be showcased to a wider audience of UK and international buyers.
How excited are you about PATS being held at the NEC for the first time?
We're really excited about our first show at the NEC because of the many benefits the venue offers. It's the UK's largest exhibition centre, providing us with more room to expand the exhibition, and its central location offers retailers and buyers superb road, rail and air transport links.
How do you think PATS helps shape the direction of the pet trade in the UK?
When we launched PATS in 2009 our goal was to provide an event where the pet industry could come together as one, under one roof, to share knowledge, experience and new ideas and the great relationships that this trade is renowned for. The industry thrives on the face-to-face interaction between suppliers and retailers, and a forum like PATS, where new products can be showcased, touched and examined, is a real must.
What can visitors expect to find at PATS over the three days?
The New Products Showcase is always popular, it gives buyers the chance to feel and touch the new products they will be stocking for the coming season. All entries in the Showcase will be judged by a panel of independent pet retailers to decide the winners of the New Product Awards.
There will be two exciting zones: the New Starter Zone area, where buyers can source products from new businesses and start-ups; and the Aquatics Zone, a focused area for the key aquatics, reptile and water gardening exhibitors.
And with an increasing number of pet retailers introducing gooming salons into their stores, PATS will be presenting state-of-the-art demonstrations in the Grooming Workshop in association with For All DogKind.
How important is it for visitors to see all the new launches under one roof?
It helps retailers save time when it comes to researching and finding new products to keep in stock in their stores. It's a great way of finding product launches that they otherwise may have missed. Visitors have also told us that it's better to look and touch the new products rather than seeing a picture of them online.
Do you think that retailers also value the opportunity to meet their suppliers face-to-face?
A visit to PATS is a great way to catch up with suppliers, especially those you don't see regularly. It is also an opportunity to source new manufacturers and talk through their product ranges.
What's your advice for visitors who want to make the most of their time at PATS?
Planning your trip to an exhibition like PATS is key. Think about what you want to achieve, and how to go about it. Make a note of which exhibitors you want to see, and if possible, call them beforehand to arrange a meeting on their stand. The PATS website lists all the exhibitors and their stand numbers along with a floorplan. It's worth spending some time familiarising yourself with how the show is set up even if you haven't been to the venue before. Once there you'll soon find your way around as the directional signs are prominent throughout, and all the stands are well numbered. The free show catalogue is also a good guide to finding the location of each exhibitor.
How do you make sure the visitor experience is an enjoyable one?
PATS offers free show entry and a free catalogue. With good catering facilities and plenty of seating areas taken care of, visitors can concentrate fully on the main business of the day - seeing top-class products from the biggest range of suppliers and manufacturers ... all under one roof.
Register Now
Retailers and buyers can register for PATS 2025 by visiting the exhibition website www.patshow.co.uk, which has all the up-to-date information about the show.
