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Bettys Cafe Tea Room was founded by Frederick Belmont, a Swiss baker and confectioner, in 1919. He opened his first Bettys in 1919 in Harrogate and this became very successful! Frederick opened other Bettys branches including York. The Bettys in York was inspired by Frederick's journey on the Queen Mary Cruise, which he took in 1936, and he commissioned for the branch to have some of the interior decor reflecting the cruise liner.
The cafe is very popular so be prepared to queue for a while but the experience is worth waiting for!
Favorite Dish: I highly recommend Bettys Traditional Afternoon Tea which includes a pot of tea, sandwiches, freshly made fruit scone with jam and clotted cream and small cakes. This cost 16.50 GBP (March 2011).
On a past visit I had the Yorkshire Cream Team and this consits of two freshly made fruit scones with jam and clotted cream and with a pot of tea. This cost 8.25 GBP (March 2011).
There is a shop attached to the cafe and I highly recommend purchasing the Yorkshire Fat Rascal scones which are large scones with fruit scones with a cherry and almonds as a decoration on top. They cost 1.75 GBP each (March 2011).
Updated Mar 23, 2011
Address: St Helen's Square, York, YO1 8QP
Phone: +44 (0)1904 659142
Website: http://www.bettys.co.uk/
Helpfulness
No visit to York is complete without a visit to Betty's, we called into Little Betty's Cafe on Stonegate to get my Mum one of there specialities called a Fat Rascal. If you have never had one then it's a must on your visit. Beware though. This hefty fruit filled rock bun type cake is really quite filling and can be a meal in itself.
They do a great range of speciality teas and coffee's as well as many more great cakes and other snacks.
Written Jul 8, 2010
Address: Stonegate
I have not eaten here for sometime and in all honesty although its very good it is not the best cafe in the chain ( that's the one in Ilkley) but if you like elegant tea shops this is the best one in York. If you are from overseas and want to see a real English tea shop do try Bettys.
The history of Bettys in York is that its finder Frederick Belmont was on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary in 1936 and was so impressed with the ship that he he asked the Queens Marys craftsmen to turn an old York furniture store in to an elegant cafe.
Long queues most days to get in - a short walk away in Stonegate is Little Bettys - same fayre but faster service. Open 09.00 to 21.00 everyday.
If you look on my home page under the title My Third VT Meeting you will see more and fuller details on Bettys and how a VT meeting was held there in August 2009.
Favorite Dish: All of the fayre here is wonderful - the English breakfast is particularly good.
Updated Aug 20, 2009
Address: 6 - 8 St Helens Square, YO1 8QP
Phone: 01904 659142
Website: www.bettys.co.uk
Betty’s is a Yorkshire institution. Fredrick Belmont, a Swiss immigrant, founded Betty’s in 1919 in Harrogate. There are Betty’s cafes and shops in York, Harrogate, Ilkley, Northallerton and Harlow Carr.
Favorite Dish: FAT RASCALS [A LARGE SCONE WITH CHERRIES AND ALMONDS]
Written Jun 21, 2009
Address: 6 - 8 ST HELENS SQUARE
Phone: 01904 659142
Website: www.bettys.co.uk
Helpfulness
Little Betty's is on Stonegate, a couple of minutes away from the main tearooms. It's run by the same people, has the same cakes etc but is in a much older building (which I think makes it better anyway).
Updated Sep 1, 2007
Address: Stonegate
Website: www.bettysandtaylors.co.uk
Helpfulness
This is a proper tea house and resturant. It is expensive, and the food is worth it. The food is a blend of swiss and Yorkshire cooking. They have amazing bread and cakes. And truely i love their breakfast blend tea. It is a place you have to experince. the lines are longest at lunch and on Weekends.
Favorite Dish: I love their "cream tea" it is 2 warm scones, with homemade jam, and clotted cream. And a pot of tradtional Breakfast blend tea. It is wonderful! Though the high tea sandwhiches and cakes go high, you can eat things that arent so expensive or splurge on one of their dinners. I love their tea though!!!
Written May 14, 2007
Address: 6-8 St. Helen's Square York YO1 8QP
Phone: 44(01904)659142
Website: http://www.bettys.co.uk
Helpfulness
WHY? Why would you want to stand in a queue 2 blocks long on a cold January day just to get into a café? This is the most overrated place in York. And the queues get longer in summer! WHY? Don’t do it. York gets packed (it is a walled city, so not much growth). Why make it worse. You really think the food is that good? Really want to stand out there and find out it’s just average? It’s your holiday. Why spend it in a queue? Loads of places have good food in York without the hassle!
Favorite Dish:
Don't know! Could not get into the place!
(Not to be confused with Little Bettys)
Written Jan 22, 2007
Address: 6-8 St. Helens Square, York
Phone: 01904 659 142
Like going back in time to the 1920s, Betty's is how english tearooms used to be. Everything is very dainty - its doilies a gogo! Traditional teas are available and the location is fantastic for peoplewatching - make sure you sit at street level. Not the cheapest but you are paying for the experience as well as the (very good) food.
Favorite Dish: I has the pikelets which are like squashed crumpets - yummy but a bit buttery! If I go again I will have the afternoon tea - tea, sandwiches, a cream scone and two mini cakes - heaven!
Written Sep 17, 2006
Address: 6-8 St. Helen's Square
Phone: +44(01904)659142
Website: www.bettys.co.uk
Helpfulness
Betty's is a local institution, the home of Taylor's of Harrogate teas, which are sold internationally. There are two Betty's in York (and a few in other parts of Yorkshire), but we went to the main one on Stonegate. The other is smaller and less busy, but not as charming, in my opinion.
We had to wait in line for about 30 minutes for a table in the late afternoon, but it was worth it. If you want to sit on the main floor, make sure you specify that. We ended up on the ground floor (basement), but it was decorated beautifully, so we didn't mind.
Favorite Dish: The strawberry/meringue sundae (The Betty's Sundae) is fabulous, as are the pastries of the day. There are probably 30 different teas from which to choose, and the three varieties we had were all delicious.
Updated Mar 3, 2005
Address: Stonegate, York
Website: http://www.bettysandtaylors.co.uk/
Helpfulness
Its a few years ago since I visited Betty's so I’m afraid I haven’t got a photo so I borrowed one off their site.
A visit to Betty’s for afternoon tea is something you should do when visiting York. If for no other reason than to say you’ve been.
No slap it on a plate and help yourself service here. You can order a selection of finely cut sandwiches followed by a selection of delicate cakes to have with your tea. A cake stand is brought to your table and left for you and you help yourself to as few or as many as you like. When you have finished you are just charged for what you have eaten.
Its quite pricey but you pay for the charm of a service offered in by gone days.
My only objection was that the waitress waited by the table while we got our money out to pay instead of coming back after a few minutes. My Great Aunt May would have looked over her glasses and tutted at that I’m afraid!
Updated Nov 11, 2004
Address: 6-8 St. Helens Square, York
Phone: (01904) 659142
Website: www.bettysandtaylors.co.uk
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