28th - 30th September 2025  |  NEC, Birmingham

Below are some of the more common questions asked when visiting PATS.

Should you wish to ask anything else or discuss any of the below in more detail please do contact us.


 

PATS is held in Hall 1 at the NEC, Birmingham. B40 1NT

+44 (0)121 780 4141

View How to get to PATS or visit the NEC website for travel information

Yes, you will need to register for PATS. This can be done either on arrival or prior to the event, both options are free of charge.  

Registering in advance is the quickest and easiest way, once you’ve registered your ticket will be emailed to you for you to print.   On arrival you can collect a lanyard and badge holder. Should you wish, you can get your badge printed at one of the registration points on your arrival at PATS. Your badge gives you full access to enter the show.

No, simply click on PATS registration and login to your account.  This will take you to your registration Summary page, which has all the details of your booking.  If you have forgotten your password, click the reset link and follow the prompts.  If you have any problems, just call us on +44 (0)1892 862848 and we can access your details and resend your confirmation email.

Registration and entry to PATS is completely free of charge.

Yes; you can bring along as many people as you wish, but they must be members of the trade and registered to visit – either on the day or in advance.  Registering a colleague is easy.  Simply click on the link in your confirmation email or login to your account.  Either way, you will be directed to your registration summary page.  Once on this page, either click on the ‘Invite’ active link or scroll to the ‘Invite a colleague’ button and enter their email address and click the ‘Invite via email’ link.

No.  PATS is a trade-only event; it’s open to retailers, distributors, manufacturers or other professionals in the pet & aquatics supplies market and is at the discretion of the exhibition organiser. Please see  Admissions Policy for further details.

With the exception of assistance dogs, other service animals and animals on stands, no pets or animals of any description will be allowed into the Event.

Please make arrangements for their care prior to arriving at the show.

As this is a trade event children under 16 years of age can be admitted to the show, however they must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

PATS 2025 Opening Times
Sunday 28th September 09:30 - 17:00
Monday 29th September 09:30 - 17:00
Tuesday 30th September 09:30 - 16:00

There is a wide range of food on offer at the NEC, Birmingham. Take a look at their website for information on what is open during PATS and to view the menus.

There is also a range of further restaurants at Resorts World, a short walk from Hall 1 - take a look

The NEC aims to be fully user-friendly for visitors with access needs. There is a quick guide to some of their facilities on the NEC website – if you would like to know more, please contact them directly.

No, The NEC Is a cashless venue so you can only pay by debit/credit card.

We are thrilled with the incredible response from our very first exhibition at PATS! The three days were absolutely brilliant, giving us the opportunity to connect with many new and existing customers. PATS proved to be the perfect platform for launching our new catalogue and introducing over 350 brand-new SKUs. We can't wait to be a part of next year's event at the NEC!

Tom Gwilliam
Sales & Marketing Director |  HugglePets

I think it’s a great idea to add a third day to PATS. We’re here for all three days, giving us enough time to meet everyone and make informed decisions about stocking new products. We also like PATS because of all the networking opportunities.

Tina Quest
Redpaw Pet Supplies, Devon

At PATS 2024 it was lovely to reconnect with our existing customers while also having the opportunity to meet potential new ones. We were thrilled to launch three new ranges during the show, Canagan Petite, Canagan Raw (Freeze Dried Treats and Toppers) and Symply Little, all of which have sold amazingly well, further highlighting the value of this event for showcasing our innovations. Looking ahead, we believe that the Birmingham NEC could offer significant advantages, including improved transport links and a larger venue to accommodate a growing number of exhibitors and visitors, both will enhance the overall experience.

Charlie Williams
Joint Managing Director |  Canagan Group

We’ve been rushed off our feet on all three days. It has been an excellent show and I love the fact you can spend more time with visitors. I will definitely need a larger stand in 2025

Cyril Geoffray
UK & Ireland national Sales Manager |  Zoo Med
We’ve missed going to Aqua so we’re really happy to be visiting the Aquatics Zone at PATS. We’ve come to see the new products, find out about deals on offer and meet people face to face. It’s also a great opportunity for networking with other shops and companies and building new relationships – something we have missed out on during the Covid years
Mark Warren
Partner |  West Dorset Aquatics
We’ve come to PATS for the whole three days because you just can’t do it justice in only two. For us, as we deal with the whole spectrum of the pet industry, we spend day one wandering through the halls to see what catches our eye and day two doing our buying – but we’ve found that by the end of the second day we haven’t always got round to everyone. So the third day is a real bonus. There is less of a rush to get it all done and we can spend more time building relationships and ensuring we’ve caught all the deals and found all the new products we might want to stock. PATS is an important highlight of the year and we wouldn’t want to miss any of it!
Toni Thornton
Managing Director |  Four Oaks Pet Supplies, Scarborough

It was great to see the Aquatics Zone sold out and full of exhibitors. For us at J&K it was a pleasure, as always, to catch up with a good number of our longstanding customers as well as meet with and introduce our brands and product ranges to potential new ones. Hopefully the new format for 2025, moving into a larger venue, capable of accommodating even more exhibitors, and with better air, road and rail access, will encourage even more visitors, allowing the show to grow in the years to come.

Ben Windeatt
Sales & Marketing |  J&K Aquatics
I’m a big advocate of having three show days because it gives you more time to spend with clients. PATS keeps growing in a good way because it gives more companies – big and small, old and new – the platform to make their mark. I had a look at the New Starter Zone and loved the buzz that these new companies were creating. PATS is great for the UK pet industry
Greg Van Praagh
Head of UK |  RPFC Group

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