A Yorkshire garden centre has cancelled a large-scale reptile and amphibian show after being told it could potentially lose its pet shop licence if the event took place.

Woodbank Garden Centre & Nurseries in Bingley had been warned by Bradford City Council that it would be in breach of its pet shop licence if it allowed the event to take place on its premises on 22 June 2025. 

Despite the prospect of being stripped of its licence and potentially facing prosecution, the garden centre initially advised the council that it would allow the event anyway.

But this week Woodbank informed customers on its Facebook page that the show was now cancelled and apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Bradford City Council warned that the show, organised by the International Herpetological Society (IHS), would involve the sale of thousands of reptiles and would violate the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and the Pet Animals Act 1951.

Woodbank Garden Centre & Nurseries is licensed as a pet shop by Bradford City Council, and the licence limits the garden centre to the offering for sale of no more than 6 tortoises, 12 guinea pigs, and 6 hamsters alongside tropical and cold-water fish. The sale of any animals on the premises other than those for which a licence has been issued would be outside the scope of, and therefore in breach of, the licence conditions.