Afternoon Tea Restaurants in North Yorkshire
1. Samuel’s, Swinton Park Hotel & Spa
British, Modern restaurant in Masham
Swinton Park - HG4
“The formal dining room at Swinton Estate” – “a country house hotel in a beautiful setting that supplies much of its food from local sources” and its own 20,000 acres of grounds. Ruth Hansom has been in charge of the kitchens during 2023 – a year that saw solid all-round ratings for its ambitious cuisine – in advance of handing over to former Roux Scholar Nicole Benham-Corlette following a £500,000 refurb to complete in early 2024: part of the property’s ‘estate-to-plate’ philosophy which aims to reduce its carbon footprint to being neutral by 2030.
2. Bettys
Afternoon tea restaurant in Northallerton
189a High St - DL7
An offshoot of the time-capsule tearoom chain offering (once you get past the queues) genteel service, plus afternoon tea, sandwiches and other things more substantial. Fans claim that it’s “great for brunch with very professional staff”, although it’s perhaps not the pick of the Bettys bunch, and there was the odd caveat this year over rising prices and shrinking portions.
3. The Pheasant Hotel
British, Modern restaurant in Harome
“If you want a hotel with a really good restaurant, this is the place for you” – Jacquie Pern’s “slightly formal” but reliably “quality” venture, occupies a “lovely setting” in a North Yorks village. “With the terrible fire at The Star Inn (next door, and run by Pern’s ex-husband), the Pheasant was taking the lead in looking after dining for the two operations” – but thankfully the Star reopened in Nov 2022, a year after it was laid low by an arson attack.
4. Bettys
Afternoon tea restaurant in Harrogate
1 Parliament Street - HG1
A Yorkshire “legend” – “the epitome of an old-fashioned afternoon tea room, and with a great pianist too”. “You might have a long wait in the queue to get in, but it’s worth it” for the “delicious pastries and well-filled sandwiches” served at this flagship of a family-owned business founded in 1919, now with five venues across North Yorkshire. “Places that are described as an ‘institution’ are often a stuffy, stilted let-down – Betty’s is none of the above”: “even the fish ’n’ chips are stylish”.
5. The Ivy Harrogate
British, Modern restaurant in Harrogate
7-9 Parliament Street - HG1
2021 Review: A “bustling” ambiance that “gives a lift to the spirits” is the chief plus-point of this brasserie offshoot of the ever-expanding London luminary. Even fans concede it’s “expensive for what it is”, and “could be said to be a little formulaic”, while a couple of other reporters noted meals that were positively bad.
6. The Countess of York
Afternoon tea restaurant in York
Leeman Road - YO26
2021 Review: A beautifully restored rail carriage at the National Railway Museum makes a unique location for a luxurious afternoon tea. It has received the odd recommendation so far: more reports please!
7. The Ivy St Helen's Square
British, Modern restaurant in York
2 Saint Helen’s Square - YO1
2022 Review: The York branch of Richard Caring’s glossy Ivy chain generates most enthusiasm for its attractive interior, which makes it a pleasant spot to while away an hour or two – including over afternoon tea – especially if you can nab a table by the full-length windows (difficult to guarantee, since tables are allocated on arrival).
8. Bettys
Sandwiches, cakes, etc restaurant in Ilkley
32 The Grove - LS29
2023 Review: “Afternoon tea IS Bettys!". This old-fashioned tearoom is “always worth the queue” for its epic teas and fine spreads of pastries and sarnies. It’s also “a great place to meet over a very good breakfast. Coffee, understandably, is excellent!”
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