The 80th birthday of Bettys Tea Rooms was celebrated in York today.
Little Betty's branch manager Janet Parker, right, and sales assistant Joanne Quinlan celebrate Betty's 80th birthday
The city's Lord Mayor, Coun Peter Vaughan, was among customers who sampled a magnificent three-tier lacework cake to celebrate the tea rooms' birthday in style.
It all began for Bettys in 1912, when Frederick Belmont, a young Swiss confectioner, travelled to England to find his fortune.
Originally heading for Eastbourne and unable to speak a word of English, he boarded the wrong train in London and found himself in North Yorkshire. Apparently, the clear, sweet Dales air around Harrogate reminded Frederick of his native Swiss Alps and he decided to stay.
It was there that he opened the first Bettys Tea Rooms in 1919.
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