Bettys has confirmed that it will not reopen its Stonegate cafe in the centre of York.
Speculation started to grow when it was not included in Bettys reopening map before multiple sources told the Stray Ferret that it was closing with job losses.
The famous Harrogate based company has said that it will reopen the shop but not the cafe at “Little Bettys.”
As a result of the closure there are 34 jobs at risk. Bettys is hoping to redeploy staff where possible.
Simon Eyles, managing director of Bettys, said the closure came with a heavy heart:
“We’ve been welcoming customers to a café on Stonegate for over 50 years. We’re incredibly grateful for the loyalty and kindness of York’s residents and visitors over that time, and for the talent, commitment and dedication of our colleagues at the branch.
“We haven’t taken this decision lightly, but we know it’s the right choice for the long term. Bettys is a 100-year-old family business and our history has shown us that we need to adapt and change.
“You may well know that our Stonegate café is the smallest of our cafés, housed in a unique, historic building, full of charm and quirks.
“This character and layout, much loved by customers, has become an increasingly challenging environment to work in.
“The back-of-house kitchen area is very small and the behind-the-scenes space for our people is very different to the working conditions we offer elsewhere.”
Read more:
- Bettys to start reopening from end of the month
- Bettys to close shops and takeaways ‘until further notice’
The Bettys Stonegate is the least commercially viable of the six existing branches, Mr Eyles added.
Many businesses have struggled financially during the pandemic.
Famous names like Debenhams and John Lewis have either had to close completely or reduce store numbers.
As part of its reopening plans the tea house in RHS Harlow Carr will open first for takeaway food and drinks from March 29.
Bettys shops will then open to visitors on April 12, which is the earliest that non-essential shops can re-open under the government’s road map.
All Bettys cafes will then re-open on May 17, except for the Stonegate branch.
