The History of Bettys

After nearly 100 years, Bettys has a great many tales to tell, including the one about the wrong train, the story of the forgotten Tea Rooms, and the time an overheard conversation changed the course of history. Make a cup of tea, slice a piece of cake, and get comfortable as we tell you 10 things you might not know about Bettys.

It all begins with this man, Fritz Bützer – later to become Frederick Belmont – a Swiss orphan who travels Europe learning his trade as a confectioner, baker and chocolatier until one day, he embarks a boat to England to pursue his dream...

What role did a journey to America play in the design of Bettys York? What calling card did servicemen leave in the Oak Room during the second world war? And what happened at Bettys during the swinging 60s? Find out in our brief history of Bettys York.

During the war the Oak Room became Betty’s Bar, a popular haunt among servicemen from nearby air bases. Some left a permanent reminder of their visit by inscribing their name onto a mirror which still hangs in the basement café.

This sepia photograph shows the original Bettys Café on Cambridge Crescent and was taken in 1919, shortly after it opened. To see more images like this, including photographs of the long-lost Bettys in Leeds and Bradford, head across to our special ‘From the Archive‘ board on Pinterest.