Betty’s York afternoon tea and fussy teenagers

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We’re heading to York from Devon in half term for a little holiday. Never been before. I fancy treating me and DH to Betty’s afternoon tea. We’ll have two teenagers in tow who won’t appreciate the fancy food. One will barely touch it. Is it worth the effort? It’s the only way to book in advance. Anyone with local knowledge of likely queue times 4.00 ish on an October half term weekday if we just walk in and they can order what they want?

We went to Betty’s during half term, didn’t have tea but really enjoyed the food.

McDonald’s is a few hundred yards away, let them go there instead?

I went for afternoon tea in the Imperial Room at Betty’s in Harrogate this year. It’s great. The food is fine for teenagers. It’s a wonderful experience. I recommend booking the Imperial Room. It’s not complex food, it’s just presented very nicely and the whole ambience is brilliant.

I second sending them to McDonald's, so you and your DH can enjoy your meal

Bettys is nice and worth a visit if you've not been before but my fave afternoon tea in York is at The Old York Tearoom

Massively over rated imo but if you really like afternoon tea I would just send the teenagers off with money for fast food.

It’s a lot to pay if they don’t eat it!

It’s mini cakes and posh sandwiches so I’d be very surprised if a teenager didn’t. Unless they had food allergies.

It’s NOT overrated. It’s very good quality, local food. But I agree- send them to McDonald’s and enjoy yourselves

There is lots of other stuff on the menu but you can’t book for that, though the queues do move quickly. Even my grumpy teens enjoy and appreciate a visit to Betty’s.

V jealous - I went on my own once and the lovely waitress said that the free table was in the middle of the room but if I didn't mind waiting a few extra minutes a corner table would be free and I might prefer it as I was alone. So kind.

Don't ruin a lovely afternoon with grumpy teens! Give them £20 to go and have a mooch round the charity shops/get a Greggs.

It's cakes and sandwiches. I mean, nice cakes and sandwiches, but still - your teenagers must have quite extreme food issues if they won't find something to enjoy. Could you ask to book the children's afternoon tea for them perhaps? I don't know if there's an age limit for that, but it has plainer sandwiches - cheese, ham, chicken etc.

Agree with all those suggesting just sending your DC off to explore for a couple of hours while you enjoy tea. York is a great city for that- the centre is compact and easy to navigate.

If you're going to do it you can book for afternoon tea, you don't have to queue.

How fussy do teenagers have to be to not just sit with a bit of cake?

Enjoy your afternoon tea in peace.
Book the kids on a tour of the York Dungeon and/or a chocolate tasting session.
My teen loved both of those experiences. 😁

My two wouldn't have appreciated afternoon tea (I tried once and they didn't enjoy it, picked at it and it felt like a waste of money). I agree with sending them somewhere else so you and DH can enjoy it by yourselves.

I’ve been 2x recently and once on a Saturday. Queued both times and it moves fast - 20-30 minute wait maybe.

So many replies, thanks all. We’re veggie (the kids eat fish) so the afternoon tea items are a bit more interesting I think. Beetroot bread, smoky carrot, truffle and chive egg mayo for example. Both teens autistic, youngest in particular does struggle with unfamiliar food, particularly when on holiday with other new experiences to take on board. A £50 a head just picking at a bit of cake seems poor value. I did think about booking the kids afternoon tea but you need to book in advance and I can’t find a way to contact them to check if this would be ok.

Chucking them some cash for McDonalds and a mooch round the shops is an excellent plan. They’re both sensible and able to navigate. I could get them some takeaway cakes so they’re not too left out. I’ll check they’re on board with the plan then book for me and DH to enjoy in peace.

Yes my two are ND as well and cautious about eating out. DS needs strong tasting food and would find it all a bit bland (he'd rather go to Nandos) and DD is just happier with familiar food. She never eats bread thinking about it, wraps, baguettes etc yes but not normal sandwiches.

I went 2 weeks ago and I wouldn’t say it is suitable for fussy eaters as I went with a few and they didn’t like it. One was vegetarian too and she was put off by a lot of the flavours.

I loved it though and ate so much I could barely walk out of the place!

Over-rated IMO. I’d take a chance on a walk-in so you can choose what you want. The queue does seem to move fairly quickly.

Send them elsewhere with £20 for a wonder and enjoy bettys as a couple!

I think its over rated and over priced. Looks nice, but average food. Try to get to the Castle Museum. It has a Victorian Street and also used to be a prison, which is interesting with audio visual shows of past prisoners.