Finally, Sunday morning's torrential rain eased and a winter sun brought some cheer for the afternoon, enabling me to meet with relatives for an enjoyable stroll in the countryside near Dorking.

Everywhere underfoot the ground was sodden after weeks of rain and the Pippbrook stream was in full spate, overflowing into the meadows alongside.

Although we had taken a packed lunch, by the afternoon we felt decidedly hungry after our exertions.

Late afternoon – teatime – oddly, is a rather difficult time to find somewhere to go for tea but while motoring through Reigate, we noticed the glowing lights of Café Rouge which was buzzing with customers even though it had just gone five o'clock.

The town twinkled with festive lights and in the cool evening air, there was certainly a feel of Christmas about.

Inside, we found that it was possible to partake of a typical Sunday afternoon tea – a slice of sponge cake with a cup of tea or coffee.

Two cakes were available, one of them a Victoria sponge. The price of a wedge of cake and a hot drink was £3.50.

However, we opted for some hot food to ward off the damp chill outside.

On the tables, little candles in red glass tea-light holders added to the Yuletide atmosphere.

An elderly lady walking with the aid of a stick arrived through the front door accompanied by her daughter and the two found a table away from any draughts. A solitary gentleman followed them a couple of minutes later.

Fairy lights festooned the front windows and music played gently as customers chatted enthusiastically.

A tall waiter had earlier pointed out a free table to us and he swiftly cleared away the bits and pieces of a birthday celebration by the previous customers. He brought menus to the table and we spent a few minutes perusing them and ordering some mugs of hot chocolate.

I was quite keen on the "prix fixe menu" which offered two courses for £8.95.

These included "camembert enrobe" – baked camembert and tomato on a toasted crouton wrapped in jambon cru and "blanchaille" – deep-fried whitebait with garlic mayonnaise.

After placing an order for the above, it was later pointed out by the apologetic waiter that the fixed price menu only applied until five o'clock, and unfortunately, the chefs could no longer serve these dishes as it was nearer to six o'clock.

Instead, we were guided to the "menu du soir", available Sunday to Thursday from 5pm. Two courses from this menu cost £9.95.

A young couple on the next table held hands and whispered to each other over their candlelit meal.

A man nearby was asking some fellow diners if they knew what was the longest village in the country is.

After a few wrong answers were proffered, he told them: "It's Long Melford, Suffolk."

His friends were informed: "I had to make a delivery there recently. The main village road there goes on forever."

Some diners were enjoying warmed batons of bread, slathered in garlic butter as an appetiser, served simply on a white square platter.

They could have savoured piping hot champignons in a blanket of melted cheese – the meal I ended up selecting.

Outside, a steady trickle of cars took families home from afternoon shopping sprees and trips to parks.

Christmas lights provided by Reigate Business Guild illuminated the 18th century old town hall and, round the corner in Castlefield Road, thousands of little white lights spectacularly decorated the line of trees in front of the Esure insurance company offices.

I cast my eyes again down the menus, styled in retro French designs, matching the café décor, extending to the umbrella stands in readiness for any inclement weather.

One of our party tucked into croquet monsieur, salmon fumés and frites, served with calibresse greenery to add a splash of colour.

A few yards away, a lone man wearing a woollen hat checked his laptop for any incoming emails and prepared some last minute notes for the ensuing week.

My eyes went to those sponge cakes under plastic domes remaining from the afternoon sitting of shoppers slaking their thirsts after placing carrier bags under the stemmed tables.

Asymetric marble-effect wall lights brought a cosy and authentic trip into former French days, conjuring up images of softly melting brie, freshly baked baguettes and chocolate crepes.

The establishment is warm and welcoming and well worth a visit if you're looking for somewhere for a bite after your Christmas shopping in Reigate.

After the hearty meal, we ventured out for the homeward journey.

Once again the rain started to fall.

Mark Davison