Bettys Tea room -Harrogate or York

[Standrewsschool]

Planning to visit Bettys tea rooms and just discovered there’s two! On,y had heard of the Harrogate one before. The York has dates that suit us better. Which has the better atmosphere? Are they both in historic nice buildings?

Theres one in Northallerton as well...

There’s loads.
Ilkley and Northallerton too, and at the RHS gardens at Harlow Car in Harrogate (different to the main Harrogate branch).
All nice buildings.

We saw both last weekend and went to the Harrogate one. Not been before but I was massively underwhelmed.

If you do go to the York one then insist on being seated in the main ground floor space and not the basement room which has not windows.

The cakes are obviously amazing. But the ice cream? Best I have ever had.

I've been to both York and Harrogate - not much to choose between them, both very nice.

My favourite was the smaller Stonegate one in York but that sadly has closed.

Go to them all

This is in ranked order:

1. Ilkley
2. Harrogate
3. Northallerton
4. Harrogate Harlow Carr
5. York large

and buy an extra something in York small

Upstairs at Harrogate, which is classed as a separate thing and you need to book I think, is the extra posh section which is extra nice. Ground floor in Harrogate is the standard Betty's experience and is very nice but relaxed and friendly. Lower ground floor in Harrogate has no windows and is horrid.

Ilkley is smaller and all nice.

Should add... Harlow Carr one is in a modern building and therefore completely different atmosphere. But still the quality food and service you get at any Betty's.

I’d rank them:

1. Ilkley
2. Harrogate
3. Big one in York
4. Harlow Carr and Northallerton joint 4th

And get something else in the Stonegate shop - little Betty’s. We always get a box of fancies in there. I don’t think it’s closed?

Definitely make sure you are at a level with windows. I like the Harlow Carr Bettys personally and Ilkley and Northallerton would be bottom of my list, with both the Harrogate ones top.

@BasicB

I’d rank them:

1. Ilkley
2. Harrogate
3. Big one in York
4. Harlow Carr and Northallerton joint 4th

And get something else in the Stonegate shop - little Betty’s. We always get a box of fancies in there. I don’t think it’s closed?

No, little one was still open last week!

I like Harrogate best, on the ground or first floor :)

In York they queue around the block for an overpriced afternoon tea, personally there are better places to eat in York

'I've only been to the Harrogate one. The food was fantastic, but there are often Kong queues to get in.

Sorry - long queues

@Dizzy1234

In York they queue around the block for an overpriced afternoon tea, personally there are better places to eat in York

Interested to know where? I have been a few times and have never found it overpriced because the service etc is so much better than other places.

Just don't bother. The cakes are all made in a factory, the whole thing is overpriced.
Bean and Bud or Hoxton North do better tea/coffee and cake in Harrogate.

The cakes are made in a single craft bakery in Harrogate. The quality is fantastic. Every fat rascal is decorated by hand, and most of the year it’s by the same woman who doesn’t trust anyone else to put the almonds on properly.

Both Harrogate and York are lovely and while the afternoon tea is excellent, they do lots of really good food,

Little York tea room is closed but you can still buy cakes there to takeaway.

Ilkley is lovely.

Much as I love a fat rascal, Betty's teas are incredibly expensive, if you have a look on Groupon there are plenty of deals on in York at the moment in nicer surroundings with better views than Betty's.

We’ve been to both. Harrogate seemed bit more relaxed, York was nice but very very busy with tourists.

York nice environment but loads of people queuing ourside with their faces pressed to the windows, so it's like a chimp's tea party. Overpriced and over rated for what you get, had much better and paid less elsewhere, but you pay for the experience, wouldn't go again

One of life’s greatest pleasures is to go to Harlow Carr Betty’s on a sunny morning and sit out on the terrace and have a great breakfast.

Ilkley is lovely!

As you’re talking about dates I presume you’re booking for the afternoon tea which is not held in the cafe but in a separate room. In Harrogate it’s upstairs, not sure about York. Both buildings are beautiful and both get very busy, but if you’re booking you won’t have to join the queues

One of them used to have someone playing a grand piano but don't know if they still do that