Bettys Cookery School in Harrogate UK

Yorkshire Spa Town Ideal for Culinary Travel

Bettys Cookery School in historic Harrogate offers culinary confidence to cooks of all ages and abilities. Courses range from Taste of Spring to Perfect Supper Party.

Harrogate is a lovely old spa town in Yorkshire, in the North of England. It is famous for its medicinal waters and handsome Victorian Turkish Baths. These are now beautifully restored.

Harrogate's heyday was at the turn of the 20th century when fashionable visitors, including members of the British and Russian royal families, flocked there to 'take the waters'. More recently, the celebrated crime writer, Agatha Christie, mysteriously 'disappeared' to Harrogate for three weeks.

Now people visit Harrogate to be pampered and indulged, rather than cured of illnesses. However, it is still possible to sample the famously smelly, sulphurous water at the Royal Pump Room, which is now a fascinating museum.

Bettys Café and Tea Room, Yorkshire

It's just a step away from the Pump Room to Bettys celebrated Café and Tea Room where customers patiently queue (they don't take bookings) for delicious coffee, tasty home-cooked meals and famously mouth-watering afternoon teas.

Bettys is a household name in Yorkshire. There are several cafés in the county - all highly individual and charming - while the family run business has provided the surrounding area with superb hand-crafted bakery, patisserie and chocolate for around a century. More recently the business merged with Taylors, the renowned Yorkshire tea and coffee blenders. Bettys latest venture is the Cookery School.

Betty's Cookery School for Novice and Experienced Cooks

Bettys purpose-built kitchen (in a building adjacent to Bettys Craft Bakery) is spacious and excellently equipped. There are 18 workstations and a large demonstration area with plasma screen to allow all students a close-up view of the action.

Such a professional environment could well prove intimidating for novice cooks, but the atmosphere at Bettys is warm and relaxed. Bettys' team of tutors, many of whom have over 30 years experience, clearly love communicating their knowledge and expertise to children and grandparents alike.

Bettys philosophy of food is firmly rooted in its Swiss-Yorkshire heritage. This means a belief in simple, honest cooking using the best quality ingredients. Courses vary from demonstrations and one-day practicals, to two-week certificate courses for people entering the catering business.