It has been a long time since I have been excited about a magazine. The last magazine I fell in love with was the original Victoria, way back in 1987. But Victoria was eventually sold and re-published and was never the same.
The good news is that I am once again excited about a magazine – and it’s no Victoria. No, no, far from it. It’s Betty, and I love it. Betty is fresh and colourful, youthful and fun and (at the moment) virtually free from advertisements. Can I hear a collective, “Yay!” ?
Betty never really officially launched but instead has been a “natural progression of a hobby” according to the magazine’s founder and editor Charlotte Jacklin. You won’t find any weight loss or diet tips there, they don’t play on people’s insecurities: their philosophy is for people to embrace who they are and celebrate it. When you enter the world of Betty you will find fashion, music, culture, and lifestyle content plus everything in between.
Betty is my new best friend and the best part about that is that I have never had a best friend so much younger than myself! The magazine is clearly designed for girls young enough to be my daughter a different age group than my own, but despite the generation gap, I have found plenty to like about Betty…beginning with the fact that a regular feature of the magazine is called Tea & Cake. Really now, Betty, how could we not become best friends?
But there is much more to Betty besides Tea & Cake. The latest issue contains local Out & About event information; a charming article about falling back in love with the bicycle; an interview with the Vice-President of the Dalston Darlings Women’s Institute (honest!) who have started their own craft parties to ensure that all those lovely things they pin on Pinterest don’t just stay there; easy recipes (including the one above for Victoria Sponge); Life Skills tips (“Dry homegrown herbs in the microwave between sheets of kitchen paper. Put a mugful of water in at the same time to prevent burning.”); hair, fashion and make-up advice; a feature about a graphic designer working on a 365 project entitled Daily Teacup; and lots more – including stylish photographs and enchanting illustrations.
Visit Betty magazine’s website and blog to learn more about their talented team and to meet my new best friend – who has brought Tea & Cake & a breath of fresh air into my life.
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I'm Denise, an American expat Anglophile living in Surrey, England. Rather conveniently, I love tea. The longer I live in this enchanted land and the more I see and do, the more I discover that in one way or another almost everything here has a tea connection. 
What a lovely new magazine. I love the ‘retro’ look of the blog, too. I will have to look for a copy the next time I am in the bookshop.
Morning, Debs! I was actually surprised at how much it appealed to me and how much I was able to relate to it (although the fashion section was, obviously, not quite something I could relate to. LOL). And like I said, how can you go wrong with any magazine that regularly features Tea & Cake??
Hope you have a lovely day. XXX
Hi Marge, and thank you very much for your comment and lovely words. I hope you had fun with Betty!
Looks like a great magazine! A little pricey for me on a student budget, but I can totally understand why. On second thoughts maybe I’l give the next issue a go
Yea, I hear you but I do think it’s excellent value for money. They use lovely paper and the artwork is real eye candy. One of those magazines that you keep and not throw away. Thanks for the comment! xxx
I am sorely tempted, so I may just go for it! Xxx
Tell them Tea in England sent you.
Looks interesting! I’d recommend Oh Comely magazine, a little more mainstream (you can buy it in WHSmith) but really enjoyable. Nice blog
Hi Jen, Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note. I will check into that magazine. I think Emma Block, who designed my blog banner, was or is in some way connected to Oh Comely because the name is ringing a bell. By the way, those scones in your most recent post look delicious!
Thank for that Denise, Betty’s looks beautiful. It is so refreshing to find a change from glossy ads and airbrushed models. I have also enjoyed Simple Things recently, they have a monthly tea feature, I picked up in M & S. x
Oh thanks for the heads up on Simple Things, I will definitely check that out.