It’s pretty hard to find couple time when kids come along, but Peter and I never feel more content (or sane again) than after we’ve managed to squeeze in a bit of time of ‘us’ time- be it a quick dinner, walk in the park or simply watching First Dates with a takeaway, while the little people sleep.
Date night or day (!) certainly doesn’t happen often enough here, but when it does, wow-we instantly return back to our early days as a twosome, after meeting as Masters students in London in our 20’s, and ten years later we’ve not changed all that much-two beautiful sons later, yes we’re a little more mature, maybe, but we still make one another laugh, love each other more with every day (gushy but true) and have a best friend in one another forever. You can’t ask for more than that, can you?
Oh wait, we both still love cake and champagne as much as we always did too, even as students, when the champs wasn’t something we drunk a lot of!
Therefore, there was frankly no better place to rekindle ‘dating’ than over a Lady Betty Afternoon Tea at our most favourite of Café Tea Rooms: Bettys in Harrogate.
I’ve been dining at Bettys since I was a baby, literally, as my Mum used to take my brother and I to the Ilkley branch, a short walk from our first home in the picturesque town in Yorkshire.
I, now, years on, take my own children, mostly to the Harrogate tea rooms (we love the Harlow Carr branch where we can combine lunch with walks and play in the RHS gardens) or often visit the York branch, each one equidistant from our house.
And this special afternoon tea, as with all other times, definitely didn’t disappoint.
Lady Betty Afternoon Tea, an exquisite dining experience that has been nearly 100 years in the making was divine.
Taking our seats upstairs, a pianist gently playing to us as we dined, the experience is steeped in history as Bettys opened in 1919, their Harrogate tearooms swiftly setting the standard for Afternoon Tea.
Almost a century on, they’ve distilled everything they know about this most treasured British pastime to create an Afternoon Tea that truly delights. I’m licking my lips recalling our miniature feast .
The tea is inspired by Bettys’ best loved pâtisserie and favourite Tea Rooms specialities with sumptuous sandwiches made in their award winning Craft Bakery, two freshly baked scones, one sultana, the other Yorkshire Lavender, subtly fragrant and delicious and the most tantalising, hand crafted cakes I’ve ever eaten (trips to Paris included).
I plumped for the meat version and Peter, the vegetarian option.
Love his determination here to grab the final scone!
We adored the prawn cocktail appetiser with avocado mousse, the perfect light, palate cleanser before the sandwiches and cakes arrived.
I also drank the house blend caffeine-free tea blend, Peter the delicate black Lapsang Souchong.
Presented on a sparkling silver three-tiered stand and served on fine bone china, decorated with a delicate tea leaf design bespoke to Bettys, it couldn’t have been a prettier or more sophisticated afternoon.
The mini berry meringue and lavender scones stole my heart but all were delightful.
And the regal Imperial Room gave our tea, a real sense of occasion. The start of a new season of date days no less.
I can’t wait for the next one.
…We couldn’t resist popping to the shop downstairs for ghoulie biscuit treats for the boys and to snap their Halloween display. Scarily delicious!
Thank you Bettys, we shall we back!
Disclosure: We were gifted a complimentary champagne afternoon tea for two in return for this honest review.
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Love Bettys especially their selection of cakes and specialty teas! Cant wait to visit again
Tom http://www.theyorkshiregentleman.com
Great place!
That certainly looks delicious, socialising over a pot of tea and tucking into finger sandwiches is all part of re-creating a sense of old-fashioned finery.
Thanks Emily, it was wonderful.
I LOVE afternoon tea. There is just something so English and sophisticated about it. Bettys looks a beautiful place, and it has been on my list to visit for a while, as is Harrogate x
Tracey Williams recently posted…Yankee Candles Festive Collection 2015 – Review and Giveaway
Oh you will love it Tracey, such a lovely treat x
This is one of my dream locations to visit. Love it x
Susan Mann recently posted…Autumn Boots for Me And Toddler
You would love it Susan x
Scrumptious. I want to eat my screen. I have heard so much about Betty’s (all good) and if I go to Harrogate, it will be top of my list to visit. Gorgeous pics as always x
Ebabee recently posted…DIY Halloween treat bags: Mini witches hats
Haha love that so much. I want to eat my screen! Please come visit and we’ll go together xx
Fab you went with Pete. I seriously need to find a sitter as we have not been anywhere with hubby for months… Looks like a great treat, the food looks super yummy and fresh x
Mirka Moore @Fitness4Mamas @Kahanka recently posted…Every Girl has the Right to #LearnWithoutFear
It was so lovely, it’s rare we get dates but so worth it, wish I lived closer and could babysit x
I’ve never been to a Betty’s, I would love to visit one as I love a good Afternoon Tea! We very nearly went to the one in York a couple of years ago but it was a Sunday and had a huge queue out the door…and we aren’t anywhere near patient enough for that, so we left again, bah, hehe.
It’s definitely on to do list though, next time we head t’up North 😀
Penny @onepennytourist recently posted…Stavanger Norway: A Step Back In Time
Ooh you would absolutely love it, the Harrogate ones tend to have shorter queues, particularly the RHS garden one x
Oh wow that looks so good! We went to 3 different Betty’s when we went on a 1 week holiday in Yorkshire last year, and they were all amazing. The best cakes I’ve ever had. Looks like you had a wonderful time xx
Becky @ PinksCharming recently posted…ThrowbackThursday: Thea and Ava enjoying the sun
How wonderful is that, a Bettys tour! We always love it there and can wholeheartedly recommend the Lady Betty Afternoon Tea x
I’ve never had the pleasure of dining in Betty’s but we reviewed one of their amazing chocolate houses for Xmas a couple of years ago and it was DELISH!!! xx
Jacqui @ Mummy’s Little Monkey recently posted…BEFORE & AFTER (dulux visualizer app)
OOh that sounds incredible Jacqui, come to Yorkshire and we’ll dine!
You’ve just made me ultra hungry now. Those pumpkin cakes are so cute!
Oooh I do love a good afternoon tea! It looks absolutely amazing! What a wonderful treat for you both. I love Bettys! Such a fabulous British (and Northern!) institution. x
Katie / Pouting In Heels recently posted…IT’S TIME TO DECORATE OUR BEDROOM! (FINALLY)
It was such a lovely treat, so nice to get time just the two of us x