Bettys Northallerton is top of the pots (From York Press)

Bettys Northallerton is top of the pots

8:57am Thursday 5th April 2012 in News

A NORTH Yorkshire café has served up a top award.

Judges from the Tea Guild agreed the best place to enjoy a spot of afternoon tea was at Bettys Northallerton.

Bettys was awarded the accolade of Top Tea Place 2012 after earning a near perfect score for flavour, knowledge and service of the teas offered, together with the quality and service of food, decor, ambience and presentation.

Praised for its delightful surroundings, affable staff, and “quietly efficient” service, the judges were also impressed by the variety and number of sandwiches, scones and cakes.

Irene Gorman, of the Tea Guild, said: “They were awarded this for the whole package. Everything was found to be done with knowledge and training.

“Nowadays, with so many different types of tea, you have to have the knowledge. A tea menu is like a wine list.

“It’s something Brits are supposed to do better than everyone else. The fact is we do. Particularly this year, with the Queen’s jubilee, there is a nostalgia for things like afternoon tea.”

Lindsay Judd, manager of Bettys Northallerton Tea Rooms, said: “We are very proud to be members of the Tea Guild, and to be given the Tea Guild’s Top Tea Place 2012 Award is a huge honour. We’re absolutely delighted.

“We know just how important it is to get all aspects of afternoon tea exactly right.”