The organisers of PATS Telford have confirmed that the pet trade show will no longer go ahead, following the latest guidance on conference and business events.
The industry show was initially set to take place between 27 September and 28 September 2020.
However, the Prime Minister’s announcement last Friday (17 July) stated that conferences and business events could only restart from 1 October, on the condition that the virus remained under control.
The event is now set to return in 2021, taking place between 26 September and 27 September 2021, with PATS Sandown taking place between 14 February and 15 February 2021.
Gordon Thomas, director of Impact Exhibitions and Events, said: “Obviously this means that PATS Telford can no longer go ahead. We had already decided, due to ongoing uncertainty over when venues would be allowed to reopen, that we would have to cancel.
“The longer the uncertainty went on, the less time we had to promote PATS Telford 2020 and deliver the audience and content that exhibitors and visitors expect from us.”
He added: “Additionally, the welfare and safety of our exhibitors, visitors and our team are significant considerations in taking this difficult decision.”
“The Department of Culture, Media and Sport had originally indicated that venues would be allowed to open in August, and that was what we were working towards. Unfortunately that is no longer the case.”
Organiser Annie Foord said: “In our combined 70 years of organising major industry exhibitions in the UK we’ve never had to cancel an event, and it makes us very sad to take this difficult decision.
“We know how important PATS is as a forum where our community comes to learn, source product, meet suppliers and network.”
She added: ““PATS is the place for the pet industry to come together as one, under one roof, to share knowledge, experience and new ideas and the great relationships that this trade is renowned for.
“Over the coming months PATS will provide a hub for the trade to continue to come together via the PATS website – with ongoing exhibitor promotions, new product launches, industry news and updates, plus new content and services promoted to our visitor databases.”
The organisers added that they “really look forward” to welcoming guests and exhibitors back at PATS Sandown next February, and again at PATS Telford in September 2021.
