5 fantastic Harrogate spots for afternoon tea
Enjoy the perfect cup of tea in Harrogate the next time you’re out with an older relative or friend; drop by some of our favourite places in town to grab a pot of tea.
Afternoon tea remains a British staple, enjoyed by many Britons and Tourists alike. But do you know its history?
Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o’clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o’clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea filled that gap between lunch and the evening meal.
Whilst visiting Harrogate shopping or sightseeing, there is nothing more enjoyable than stopping for afternoon tea. As a historic well-established Spa town, Harrogate maintains many British cultural traditions, namely through its array of tearooms, that makes it a perfect place to take elderly relatives or guests. Here are just some of our top places in Harrogate to stop for a spot of tea:
Betty’s Tea Room: famous for their delicious afternoon teas with a variety of different tea blends, patisserie, and sandwiches. The first Betty’s tearoom opened in 1919, featuring Swiss culinary delights that travelled to England with its founder, Fritz Bützer. They offer a delicious menu catering for both vegetarians and vegans, in fact the staff always ask if there are any food allergies to consider when ordering. Betty’s also offer a marvellous menu of hot food, lunch, and breakfasts, if you fancy something other than their elegant afternoon tea.
The cakes and pastries are beautifully prepared in their own local craft bakery and their ‘fat rascals’ are always popular. They also have a delightful restaurant store where patisserie, cakes, tea, and hampers can be purchased. During your visit, you mustn’t forget to witness their delightful store window display, featuring seasonal products and hand-crafted chocolate sculptures.
Over the years, the popularity of Betty’s determined its success, and is now present in five stores: Harrogate, York, Harlow Carr (Harrogate), Northallerton and Ilkley. The Betty’s experience is always splendid, with fast service, excellent food, whilst being surrounded by decadent interior inspired by the golden 1920s!
Their Harrogate restaurant is located at: 1 Parliament Street, Harrogate, HG1 2QU.
The Harrogate Tearooms: Opened in 2012, The Harrogate Tea Rooms is a small, independent, and family run business. Carrie and Tony have created a charming tearoom, located within a unique Victorian Arcade, where luxury and boutique stores can be browsed, showcasing the best Harrogate has to offer. Renowned for their delicious homemade scones, with or without clotted cream, you can be sure of a delicious and refreshing tea break during your Harrogate experience.
They offer helpful and friendly service where all their food is locally and freshly made to order. All cakes, scones and treats are homemade with love, and compliments their vast array of tea blends perfectly.
The Harrogate Tearooms can be found at: 9 Westminster Arcade, Harrogate, HG1 2RN.
Mama Doreen’s Emporium: Since 2009, Mama Doreen’s has been providing Yorkshire with fresh baked goods and pastries, enjoyed by many, both young and old. Their Harrogate restaurant offers modern bakes, afternoon teas and a wide range of takeaway options, whilst being surrounded in a plush indoor dining environment. Notably, Mama Doreen’s offer a bespoke cupcake, birthday, and wedding cake service, where your dream cake can be made to order.
The restaurant caters for every requirement, and offers a range of afternoon tea styles, including Vegan, senior citizens, gluten, and dairy free options. Private functions and celebratory events are a popular and reliable service amongst others that Mama Doreen’s offer.
Mama Doreen’s Emporium can be found at: 9-11 Station Square, Harrogate, HG1 1TB.
Palm Court Café: Located in the Harrogate town centre, Palm Court Café offer an amazing choice of freshly prepared cakes, sandwiches, and snacks as well as a wide range of home cooked meals. Their reliable function room service is popular with local businesses, where fresh cakes and hot food can be provided with their excellent catering service. Everything the Café serve is baked from scratch, representing the best of local produce made with love and care. This is supported by their popularity with residents and tourists, and remains a delicious location to indulge in cakes, sandwiches, pastries, scones and so much more. Palm Court Café also offer a large selection of gluten and dairy free foods, accommodating for everyone’s dietary requirements, guaranteeing a satisfying experience for all.
The Palm Court Café can be found at: 29 Montpellier Hill, Harrogate, HG1 2TG.
Jenny’s Tea Shop: Nestled in Harrogate’s historic Montpellier Quarter and tucked away from the sea of shoppers and sightseers, Jenny’s Tea Shop remains a local treasure, showcasing the best of local products. Its location couldn’t be better; surrounded by Vintage, Antique and boutique stores, Jenny’s Tea Shop is the perfect place for a refreshment stop or light lunch. Exquisite indoor and al fresco seating accompanies their fresh scones, cakes, and fresh afternoon teas perfectly. Dining is served through vintage and traditional tea crockery, adding to its historical location and charm.
Jenny’s Tea Shop can be found at this address: 7 Montpellier Street, Harrogate, HG1 2TQ.
When visiting Harrogate, take the time to enhance your experience by indulging in these local stores and restaurants, and definitely feel the need to take some sweet treats away with you!
