Time For Tea: Tea the Twenty-Ninth

Now cheer the fire and close the shutters fast,

Let fall the shutters, wheel the sofa round,

And, while the bubbling and loud hissing urn

Throws up a steamy column and the cups

That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each,

So let us welcome peaceful evening in.

William Cowper - The Task

Bettys, Ilkley - Friday 20th December 2013

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Tea Takers

Sarah Ryan

Paul Ryan

Olivia Ryan

Jean Thacker

Mary Taylor

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Another tea, another Bettys - and frankly, why not, when they do it so well? This time we came to Ilkley with my Mum and a very special family friend, Auntie Mary, enjoying the scenic drive over from her home in Harrogate, with its winding roads skirting the dales and the final stretch affording an excellent view of Ilkely Moor and the Cow and Calf rocks, as you enter the town.

Ilkely is somewhere I have always enjoyed visiting. The Cow and Calf constituted a very exciting trip out when I was a child, and once I earned the status of driver, with its attendant independence, it was somewhere I often drove out to with friends.

Bettys is located in a very typical West Yorkshire stone building and, whilst like the Northallerton branch, its fittings are more recent that the classic Harrogate and York establishments, it has the signature elegance of the company, and a definite air of early twentieth century tea room chic.

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Tea was as excellent as we have come to expect. I particularly recommend the brioche french toast with bacon, which was glorious. Auntie Mary was very pleased with her rarebit scone, and Olivia also with her now customary bacon muffin.

After the savouries, we then were able to summon the cake trolley, which was an exceedingly pleasing vehicle. Notice the size of Olivia's eyes as she anticipates cake joy.

Meringue with fresh fruit was the most popular choice with Paul, Mum and Auntie Mary all opting for that, and giving it unequivocally good reviews (Paul claims that it constituted four of his 'five a day' and was practically health food). Olivia had a slice of a very attractive glossy chocolate cake, but if this odyssey has taught us one thing it is that she reacts unpleasantly to nuts, and after a second mouthful it became clear that these were included among the ingredients (Note Bettys: this is something that you probably ought to indicate) - however, a glass of water helped stem the swelling, and a supply of chocolate from Grandma's handbag provided some compensation.

My eye was caught by a platter almost hidden on the bottom shelf, which was piled with festive fondant fancies - and the delicate mistletoe embellished cube that I received, as well as looking pleasingly elegant and simple, was absolutely delightful - light vanilla sponge, icing with smart crisp edges but a delightfully fudge-like texture, and effectively restrained jam and buttercream filling - quite perfect.

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Auntie Mary and Uncle Ken are incredibly important people in my life, not least because it was they who brought my parents together. Now that Dad and Uncle Ken are no longer with us, I can only assume that they are wreaking benevolent havoc together somewhere in the Elysian fields. Best friends from their days training to be Methodist ministers, they were most definitely kindred spirits in creativity, spirituality and mischief. Among other exploits they liked to wander the streets of Manchester walking their imaginary hippopotamus, O'Brien - with one of them calling to passers-by to clear the way while the other clung on to the invisible tether. Whilst obviously missing them very much, they both enhanced our lives so much that we cannot but be grateful and joyful to have been part of the fun.

Auntie Mary was an excellent and discriminating tea companion and we all had a very enjoyable and relaxed afternoon.

Seeing how important this long friendship remains, is very special and I hope that I am still having tea with some of those of you who have joined me recently when I am in my seventies.

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Twenty-Ninth Tea - Twenty-Ninth Year

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The Ilkley branch also featured the usual delightful shop, heaped with beautifully presented if rather expensive items. You can buy a Bettys silver teapot if you have £220 to spare, and add to it a silver salver and cake stand if you want to recreate the whole experience at home. More dangerously tempting are the shelves of cakes, biscuits, and glass cabinets full of cakes and pastries. Fortunately eating a substantial and satisfying tea does give you strength to avoid these blandishments and walk nonchalantly through the shop.