Bettys Countdown to Christmas
Bettys Countdown to Christmas
For the past few weeks we've been rummaging around in our archive to find fascinating Bettys facts to share with you each day of the advent. Check back here daily for the latest tidbit and to find out how much you know about our 103 year history!
Did you know that we’ve been creating our famous, fruity Fat Rascal scone for 39 years? 2023 is its 40th (or ‘Ruby’) anniversary.
Did you know that our founder Fritz Bützer (who later changed his name to Frederick Belmont) was born in Switzerland and learned to be a chocolatier and confectioner by travelling around his native country and France?
Our founder, Frederick Belmont, never planned to end up in Yorkshire. Stuck at a railway station and with little English he had called out for a train to ‘Bratwurst’. A helpful local suggested a train to Bradford and thus started his new life in the Dales - thankfully for us!
Did you know that Bettys is still owned by Frederick Belmont’s family?
In 1962 Bettys purchased C E Taylors, a tea and coffee merchant, marrying together the perfect duo of tea and cake and creating the group business we are today.
In 1931 Bettys made a special silk-covered chocolate box for Princess Mary, George V’s daughter. It’s understood that she was a regular visitor to Bettys Harrogate.
Did you know during World War II, the Bettys York basement floor was turned into a popular bar affectionately known as ‘The Dive’ by the service men and women who frequented it?
Did you know that our cakes, bakes and chocolates are crafted by skilled artisans at our Harrogate bakery? Many of the techniques are the same used when we were founded in 1919.
Did you know you can learn some of our baking secrets by attending a course at our Cookery School? It’s a lovely day out to enjoy with friends or family, and a super gift too.
Our founder, Frederick Belmont, wanted Bettys to embody ‘inclusive exclusivity’. Upon entering everyone should feel welcome and ’just that little bit more special than usual‘, he said.
Over this festive period, we have sent over 60,000 of our famous Classic Mince Pies by post.
We have been making our famous fondant fancies for over 90 years!
For ten years, we’ve been serving an exclusive bookable afternoon tea in our York and Harrogate Tea Rooms. Have you tried it yet?
Did you know Bettys once had Café Tea Rooms in both Leeds and Bradford?
Since the 1930s, Bettys has had a close relationship with the Spindler Studio in Alsace, which produces works of art using the technique of marquetry. This involves fitting various pieces of wood together in a thin sheet, which are then glued like a veneer to the surface of a panel. By selecting different colours and grains, intricate pictures can be made. You can see examples of these beautiful works in several of our Café Tea Rooms, but the Spindler Gallery in Bettys Harrogate is believed to house the single largest collection of Spindler works in the world.
We may still be quite a small business, operating from our Craft Bakery in Harrogate, but at Christmas things get quite busy. How busy? Well this year our mail order business sent 32,000 Fat Rascals, 24,000 Fondant Fancies and 7,000 boxes of Tea Room Blend Tea. That's quite the Christmas tea party.
Bettys has been serving traditional afternoon tea since the 1920s. Adverts of the time arguing that it’s not simply a modern trend but a timeless moment to be shared – and how right they were!
Did you know that Bettys owns a teapot collection of over 600 pieces, the oldest of which dates back to 1750?
Who was Betty? We actually don’t know. There are several theories - but the truth behind the name remains a mystery.
Did you know that our York branch was modelled on the interior of the Queen Mary luxury liner? Our founder was on the maiden voyage and was so taken by the interiors that he commissioned the craftspeople who worked on it, Trollope & Sons, to create similar designs for his new café.
Did you know that we first started sending parcels by post in the 1920s? Today’s mail order business was founded in 1986 and is thriving. It’s an easy way to send that special someone a handcrafted treat.
In 2022, Bettys & Taylors was awarded the Queen’s award for Enterprise for a fourth time. It recognises British businesses and organisations that excel in international trade, innovation or sustainable development.
We have packed over 50,000 giftboxes, bags and hampers. Golly, our elves are tired!
Did you know our new plastic-free chocolate novelty stick boxes were designed by Heather Tempest-Elliot, a shop team leader at Bettys York.
