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29
Jan
Bettys tea house inside RHS Harlow Carr to close
Bettys tea house inside RHS Garden Harlow Carr is to close this spring.
The gardening charity plans to operate the tea house itself and open a new lakeside kiosk near the Queen Mother’s Lake in the 58-acre garden.
Bettys will continue to run its main café tearoom and shop, which is open to everyone. However, its tea house, which is only available to customers who pay to enter the garden, will no longer be run by the company.
Bettys has operated the tea house for just over 20 years. But the RHS announced the changes yesterday (January 29).
It said in a statement:
With the current contract running until April 2026, the RHS undertook a formal tender process as part of its charitable governance requirements. As a result, we are pleased to confirm that Bettys will continue to operate the café tea rooms and shop at RHS Garden Harlow Carr.
Bettys will also continue to operate the smaller tea house within the garden for the coming months, with the RHS taking over the space in spring 2026.
Alongside this, we are delighted to announce plans for a new lakeside kiosk as part of an enhanced landscape setting around the Queen Mother’s Lake, further enriching the visitor experience at RHS Garden Harlow Carr.
The new lakeside kiosk will offer visitors a welcoming place to pause and enjoy refreshments while taking in views across the garden’s iconic water and planting. Carefully designed to sit harmoniously within the landscape, the kiosk will be complemented by thoughtful improvements to the surrounding area, enhancing both accessibility and the natural beauty of the lakeside setting.
Bettys cafe tea rooms at Harlow Carr will remain open.
The statement added that the changes “form part of the RHS’ wider plans to further develop the food and beverage offering within the garden”.
The charity already operates in-house cafés and restaurants at RHS Garden Rosemoor, RHS Hyde Hall and RHS Harlow Carr, and it said taking over the tea house “will align more closely with this established model”
It said:
“This approach will enable greater flexibility, increased choice for visitors, and more opportunities for the catering team to work with produce grown in the kitchen garden, championing fresh, seasonal ingredients.”
It means Harlow Carr visitors will have four refreshment options: the Harrogate Arms, the tea house and the new kiosk, which will all be situated inside the area for paying visitors, and Bettys Café Tea Rooms and Shop, which will be open to the general public.
The new kiosk is expected to sell drinks, sandwiches and cakes but the details are yet to be confirmed.
The Stray Ferret has contacted Bettys for comment.
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