Afternoon teas and thank-you: the etiquette essentials

Afternoon teas and thank-you: the etiquette essentials

We may have delighted generations of customers with the way that we serve it, but when it comes to enjoying a Bettys afternoon tea, there are no hard and fast rules. If you would like to reassure yourself that we really do serve it all day, every day in our Café Tea Rooms by arriving as soon as our doors open on a Sunday, the teapot will be warmed and waiting. If you feel that turning 39 and a half is the excuse you’ve been waiting for to reserve a table for the bookable afternoon tea we serve at Bettys Harrogate and York, we’ll make sure your visit is every bit as special as it deserves to be.

Naturally, if you’d like your afternoon tea to be vegetarian, vegan or feature non-gluten containing ingredients, we’re happy to serve those too. And if you’d rather tuck in to our treats at home, we’ll even deliver our Afternoon Tea Gift Box to your doorstep – with optional champagne. However you prefer to take afternoon tea, we’re here to make sure that your sandwiches are scrumptious, your scones piled high with cream and jam and your cakes truly exquisite.

That said, if you’re new to all things afternoon tea, or are feeling a little daunted by its reputation as a highly etiquette-laden tradition, here is our advice for getting the most out of your Bettys experience. Think of these less as fussy rules, more as tips to help add to the sense of occasion…

Dress to impress

To feel most comfortable in our Café Tea Rooms, we recommend a smart casual look. But if you feel like dressing up more than usual, you’ll get extra Bettys points for trying (and that even applies if you’re having afternoon tea at home). Why not take inspiration from the classic elegance of our crisp white tablecloths, or from the colourful flair and attention to detail of our fancies? Just don’t wear anything too restrictive: we want you to enjoy yourself to the fullest, especially when indulging in our bookable Afternoon Tea, where tea and sandwiches are replenished to your heart’s content.

Feed yourself, not your phone

Afternoon tea is your special time to relax away from the bustle of the outside world. So once you’ve captured that inevitable Instagram shot, please silence your phone and put it safely away.

Instead, immerse yourself in a delicious experience punctuated not by notifications but by sparkling conversation – and if you’re enjoying our bookable Afternoon Tea, the sounds of our café pianists. Crucially, there’s no risk of your tea companion helping themselves to a little extra from your plate while you’re distracted by a screen.

Top-level temptations

When presented with a gleaming silver cake stand stacked with your Afternoon Tea treats, it can be hard to know where to begin. It’s simple: start at the bottom level, then work upwards from savoury to sweet, sandwiches, scones then patisserie, making your way towards the summit of deliciousness.

At the same time, show impeccable tea manners by always offering to pour your companions a cup first – especially if you are seated closest to the pot.

Napkins at the ready

Napkins are there to be used, so place one on your lap as soon as you sit down to avoid any unnecessary spills or crumbs. If you need to wipe your mouth, lift a corner of the napkin to your face and tap gently until it is clean. If you shed a tear of joy at tasting our cakes, you may also do the same.

To tea (or not to tea)

For the perfect cup, we recommend letting your tea brew for three to five minutes before adding your choice of sugar, lemon, honey or milk. Stir quietly so as not to disturb your fellow tea-takers – you don’t want to cause a storm in your teacup.

If tea isn’t actually your cup of tea, then don’t sit there stewing. You’re more than welcome to replace it with another of the hot drinks served in our cafés.

The golden rule: relax

Most importantly, afternoon tea is never the occasion to start swinging the cake stand over the correct pronunciation of ‘scone’, so don’t let focusing on rules get in the way of a delicious time. A little consideration makes everyone’s afternoon tea more lovely, but rest easy. At Bettys, we don’t mind if your manners aren’t as polished as our silverware – like crumbs, the occasional faux-pas is inevitable, and will happily be forgiven as long as you enjoy your experience.