July.1999 / Page2
Frederick Belmont's Inspiration: 　The story starts at the turn of the century when Frederick Belmont left his home in the Swiss Alps and traveled to Paris to train as a confectioner. Inspired by the dream of building his own business, he crossed the channel to England with the intention of settling in Eastbourne or Bournemouth on the south coast. However, as he did not speak one single word of English, he apparently boarded the wrong train at the wrong station and several hours later, found himself (to his dismay) in Yorkshire-way up north and miles from where he wanted to be. But the craggy hills, the rolling countryside, and the clear air reminded him of his native Switzerland and so he decided to stay. 　Belmont opened his first Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms in 1919-but who was Betty? Although the truth will probably never be known, several explanations have been suggested over the years. There is a sentimental tale of young Betty, a doctor's daughter, who died of tuberculosis and whose father's practice on Cambridge Crescent, Harrogate, later became that first Cafe Tea Room. Then there are the stories that say the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, who was born at the turn of the century, was the inspiration for the name. Many believe that Betty Lupton, 'Queen of Harrogate Wells', was the original Betty, whilst others say the cafes were named after a famous musical show of the time. But the story that is probably closest to the truth is that a distant relative of Frederick Belmont − a young girl called Betty Rose − interrupted the very first board meeting of the company to decide the name of the Cafe. The true identity of Betty still remains a family secret and, as it says in Bettys menus, "although many tales are told and explanations offered, some mysteries are better left unsolved." 　Frederick Belmont's sociable nature and hospitable approach to running his cafe brought him both royal patronage and popular local acclaim. In 1922, a new bakery was built, complete with its own orchard, to meet the growing demand for Betty's cakes, chocolates and bread. The local paper, The Yorkshire Evening Post, wrote, "There were the fanciest cakes with names that are so strange that they have to employ an interpreter to tell people what they mean. Bouton d'Ors, Batenbergs, Ganache Meringues... I bet if you went to Bettys and asked for a bun they would send for the police!" 　The Cafe Tea Rooms flourished through the 1920s, with visitors from the European 'smart set' traveling regularly to Harrogate to take the waters and while away their afternoons at Bettys. Afternoon teas were served with dainty cakes and fine loose leaf teas to the accompaniment of string quartets that had been engaged from some of London's most sophisticated venues. 　More cafes opened in other popular Yorkshire towns through the 1920s and 1930s, but it was the York branch that was to become the company's flagship.
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