This is my most visited pet shop. I have a love/hate relationship with Pets At Home, they are handy but they also frustrate me as so many products that they sell are just not suitable for the animals they are intended for.
This store used to be significantly larger but it moved a few shops down to a smaller shop which is a shame as the store now feels quite cramped and crowded, especially on weekends when it gets busy.
As with all Pets at Home stores, the emphasis is on dogs and cats, followed by small animals and then fish, birds and reptiles. They sell pets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils and hamsters including Syrian, Russian dwarf and roborovski's. They also have a small rescue area where you can find the same types of animals that have been surrendered and are looking for new homes.
This shop sells a wide range of dog food, dog treats and toys. There are plenty of leads and collars and coats and other dog supplies. Similar for cats, although in smaller quantities. There is a small puppy section and a range of crates and if your dog likes to chew then they will be well catered for.
There are about twenty fish tanks with a range of cold water and tropical fish, nothing exciting but the standard range. They often have pretty beta fish in. They have a range of ornaments and tanks, mainly smaller tanks due to lack of space, but a fairly decent range. They have all the standard accessories too.
The reptile section is small, they have a good range of live food and different substrates including sand, bark and aspen. There is a range of bowls and hides, along with lightbulbs and other accessories. They do not sell reptiles.
The small animal section is decent, but not as big as other PAH stores. It is very spread out so it is easy to miss parts of it if you don't have a good look around. They sell a range of cages but please be aware that all of the hamster cages they sell are too small for any hamster, especially Syrians. The only cage that PAH sells that meets the minimum requirement is only available online. There is a range of bedding and substrates, the majority are woodchips which are not considered safe for small animals as they can lead to respiratory problems. They do sell Carefresh which is suitable, and some of the reptile substrates are safe too.
They sell a range of food for small animals, with the focus being on rabbit food, followed by guinea pig food and then other small pets which have a limited choice. There is a range of treats and toys, some of which are not safe so please do your research. They do sell a great range of forage for your small pet which makes great enrichment.
The bird section is small, about half of it is aimed at wild birds, including feeders and seeds etc and the other half is aimed at pet birds with seeds, toys and treats.
There is also a vet and grooming salon and there is a small RSPCA cat rehoming area but that has been closed since Covid-19 and I am not aware of plans to reopen it.
The store has two levels, the ground floor and then a mezzanine with cat products, the vet and groomers. There is a lift that is wheelchair friendly.
The store is situated in a retail park, and there is ample parking, including two disabled spots right outside. There are a number of other shops including Curry's, Smyths Toys, B&Q, Sports Direct and Dunelm. Places to eat include McDonald's, Costa Coffee and Subway.
Overall, this is a decent Pets at Home store but it isn't one of the biggest and therefore it has a smaller range than many others. If you live locally or are passing then it's worth a visit but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there.
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