Welcome to our family owned and operated, proudly independent, restaurant and venue. We are Lois & David, and this the story of how we created our award winning restaurant and venue.

The journey from a neglected cafe, to be becoming award winning, took a leap of faith, as Lois explains:

“After working for many years in the hospitality industry, I took a break, embarking on a career change. However in 2016, following the birth of our youngest child, I decided it was time to return to my preferred industry to create a special business for our family.

After working as a large chain hotel manager, I wanted to create our own independent restaurant and venue. It took two years of searching for the right place, the right business and the right venue, when we eventually found a neglected, forgotten about cafe in the centre of Whitby. Being from the hospitality industry, I could see straight away the potential it had. However David, working in education both as a teacher, Academy Director and in the last 16 years, an education consultant, had never considered hospitality as something he’d be involved in. But having spent many happy childhood holidays in Whitby, he saw the appeal and agreed. And in 2018, we became the new owners.”

Naming the business after her daughter, Lois began a journey of transformation. Through hard work, persistence and an unwavering determination she has transformed the business into an award winning, destination restaurant and venue.

Featured in numerous publications and media stories, including The Yorkshire Post, the Sun, BBC radio, York Press and many more, about her business journey, awards, business growth and how she, along with the team, have created something so very special here in Whitby with the now famous Fish and Chips Afternoon Tea. For all of our media coverage and new stories, please visit our News page.

Many of you will meet Lois, happily hosting wedding and events, or greeting customers in the restaurant. You may also see her at various business events, where she is often asked to share the story of the business journey. David has stood solidly by her side throughout the journey including the uncertainty of the pandemic and beyond, providing invaluable support as Lois has taken the business onwards and upwards. 

Lois credits the success down to the hardworking team that brings Hetty and Betty to life. 

“Our team is at the heart of our business, and we trust them so implicitly we held our own wedding reception here! We could not have been prouder of the amazing day they gave us.  We are looking forward to achieving even more in the coming years, facing the challenges together, as family business.”

But our story is the culmination of the business’s own amazing story, which started in 1928. To get the full story please visit Our History page, when you can learn all about Whitby’s oldest fish and chips serving restaurant.

Thank you for reading. We look forward to welcoming you to Hetty & Betty soon!