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?

Does the one a Harlow Carr have a cake shop like in Ilkley? So if you want to go in and buy a couple of small cakes to takeaway rather than eating in?

I don’t understand the queues in York these days. It used to be wonderful and full of old world charm years ago but it is no longer like that. The amazing service is gone, the food is not as good as it was and is still as over priced as ever. My only suggestion would be to go in the evening when they are less crowded and the pianist is there (if they are there these days)

Yes, Harlow Carr has a tea shop. Queues are not. as long as in Harrogate centr

Centre.

@BarbaraofSeville

Does the one a Harlow Carr have a cake shop like in Ilkley? So if you want to go in and buy a couple of small cakes to takeaway rather than eating in?

Yes, they all have a shop.

If you’re booking I’m assuming the Lady Betty formal tea. In Harrogate that’s upstairs. Beautiful room, grand piano playing, divine food.

I love both the original Harrogate one and Ilkley for their Victorian charm. York is annoyingly crowded. Harlow Carr is great for the food, service and eating on a sunny terrace overlooking the gardens.

Thanks @lannistunut. I did look on the website, but it wasn't particularly clear.

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

Agree. I refuse to queue for food anywhere and as much as I love cake I will not stand in the freezing cold queuing for it like I'm in 1989 USSR.
It's undignified. DH has been loads of times and says the food isn't all that great anyway.

@Dizzy1234

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

Can you suggest somewhere?

Why are people booking if you have to pre-book for afternoon tea? The

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

My friend went to the Harrogate one, she was so excited but was hugely underwhelmed and tbh the photos she showed me looked really disappointing.

Can you suggest somewhere?

People always say there are better places, and cheaper, but never actually tell you where.

IMO, it is popular because it is reliable and the service is good.

Plus Betty's is a bit of an institution in a 'making memories' way. People like to remember that they've been for Afternoon Tea at Betty's. It's the north's equivalent to the Ritz, or Fortnums.

Even if the food is technically less nice and there's the long queue, people like to remember and talk about the time they went to Betty's more than a random tea room with a name they can't remember and no-one's heard of anyway.

A few years ago we went for Afternoon Tea at the Countess of York... its a converted Dining Car at the National Rail Museum.