Video: Tea set celebrates 75 years of Bettys

When Frederick Belmont decided to open his fourth branch of Bettys with a new tea rooms in York, he knew he faced stiff competition from the city’s wealth of other cafes.

The chocolate dynasty of Terrys had a rival business also in St Helen’s Square, but Mr Belmont, the Swiss entrepreneur behind the Bettys empire, was adamant that a dilapidated furniture store was ideal to be transformed into his new venue.

But he would still perhaps have found it hard to believe that 75 years on, the Bettys tea rooms in York have become entwined in the fabric of the city, attracting visitors from across the globe.

The tea rooms situated in the heart of the city near the famous Minster and within view of the Lord Mayor of York’s official residence, the Mansion House, will celebrate the landmark anniversary on June 1.

And one member of staff will be able to give an insight into how the business has evolved more than any other.

Alan Stockdale will reach his 40th anniversary at the tea rooms in the same month as Bettys celebrates its 76th year in the city.

As well as the length of service, the business has an extra special place in Mr Stockdale’s heart as it is where he met his wife of 27 years, Wendy, while she was working as a waitress.

Mr Stockdale admitted that the tea rooms have changed significantly since he first arrived as the head chef.

The business had initially been a far more fragmented business operating over four floors.

There was the Oak Room Bar downstairs below the café with a shop selling the famous cakes and the Belmont Rooms on the first floor, above which was the impressive Ballroom on the top level.

But a major renovation in 1982 created the format of the tea rooms which customers will recognise today.

After spending a decade working in the kitchens, Mr Stockdale then helped out behind the bar before becoming the maître d’ with the front of house duties.

His role has seen him tasked with dealing with customers waiting in the famous queues which are often snaking down the street outside Bettys.

While he admits that he is often faced with fraught customers who are short on time, he has gleaned an almost six sense over his four decades at the tea rooms for how to smooth over any potentially awkward situation.

Mr Stockdale said: “Every customer is different, and it is my job to evaluate what their needs are.

“We do get a lot people who keep coming back even on a daily basis, but they aren’t treated any differently to someone who is visiting for the first time.

“We want people to go away thinking they have had a memorable time at Bettys, and it is a special feeling to think I have helped them do just that.”

While growing up in Knaresborough, Mr Stockdale admitted that he had always viewed the Bettys branch in nearby Harrogate with awe – and never imagined that he would one day become one of the company’s longest-serving employees.

He said: “Bettys was not somewhere that a working family would have gone to – I still remember ladies in fur coats carrying their Pekingese dogs going to Bettys in Harrogate.

“Things have changed a great deal and we get people from all sections of society coming to the tea rooms. But I do still find it hard to believe that I have been given the chance to work at Bettys.”

Despite its enduring presence in the city, Bettys in York has nonetheless continually evolved – and its menu is reflects the changes.

While afternoon teas have always been served, their popularity has soared in recent years and are now available throughout the day.

Mr Stockdale said: “Customers travel from across the world to sample a little piece of Englishness with a Swiss twist, which is what Bettys is all about.

“There are obviously so many cafes out there, but I do think Bettys offers something a little different. There’s the famous Yorkshire hospitality mixed in with the Swiss efficiency.”

Mr Stockdale turned 65 earlier this year, prompting concerns from his colleagues that he was about to retire.

While he has decided to work part-time and is in two or three days a week, Mr Stockdale is adamant he has no plans to leave the business.

The manager of Bettys in York, Una Heron, said: “When Alan turned 65, I realised just how important he is to Bettys as staff were really worried that he was going to leave.

“It is a pleasure to work with him, he is so self-deprecating but he means a great deal to so many of our customers.”