In the midst of Storm Darragh, I braved the blustery winds and, against my better judgement, headed down to the coast.

The trip was to see rock band Enter Shikari play a rare intimate gig at Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall and the wet weather wasn’t going to stop me – but it did mean I needed somewhere to shelter until the venue opened.

We’d eyed up the Harbour Arm as a potential spot but, given the stormy conditions, most of the huts were shut and we thought better of trying to dine on the seafront.

Instead, we headed into the town’s Creative Quarter and stumbled upon Steep Street Coffee House, a cosy-looking cafe that, despite it being 5pm on a Saturday evening, was still open and filled with customers.

The colourful exterior and brightly-lit windows looked inviting, so we ducked inside and nabbed the last empty table.

It wasn’t until we’d taken off our coats, scarves and gloves and settled into our seats that we realised we were surrounded by shelf upon shelf of books.

Hardbacks and paperbacks lined the walls, with everything from the Living Planet by David Attenborough to Dan Brown’s Inferno and A Tale of Two Cities by Kent’s own Charles Dickens.

The books looked fairly worn and I’d assumed they'd been donated second-hand but they, along with the soft music from Jack Johnson and Paolo Nutini, gave the place a snug, homey atmosphere and I could see why people flocked to this spot.

I joined the queue at the counter, which was about three people deep but moved quickly, and was greeted by a chatty woman who took my order swiftly and politely. I was told I could head back to my table and they’d bring it over – always a nice touch.

The menu was vast, with hot drinks of almost every variety and flavour. The cold outside drove me towards a hot chocolate and, after dithering between flavours, I went for Kinder Bueno (but Nutella and black forest were close runners-up).

I also ordered a Biscoff latte for my partner as well as a chocolate brownie and a mince pie – well, you’ve got to at this time of year, haven’t you?

I returned to my seat and admired the bookshelves while we waited. I liked where we were sitting, the only problem was the shelf underneath our table that got in the way of our knees every time we tried to tuck our chairs in, especially for my 6ft tall companion!

We forgot all about that when our order arrived.

Two large mugs, filled to the brim with steaming hot drinks, were placed in front of us, alongside two small side plates with our cakes.

My hot chocolate looked mouth-wateringly appetising. It was piled high with whipped cream, tasted silky-smooth and had that distinctly milky taste of Kinder chocolate. It also came with a small Kinder bar on the side.

It was up there as one of the best hot chocolates I’ve ever had and I can’t think of a nicer one I’ve tried, at least not in Kent.

Nominate your favourite cafe or tea room in this year’s Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards.

The latte was a bit more subtle in appearance, but I’m assured it had a great biscuit-y flavour. It did need a stir to stop bits of Biscoff collecting at the bottom, though.

I then tasted the brownie and this was the star of the show for me. It was rich and sweet with large chocolate chunks and an indulgent, gooey texture. I must admit, after the hot chocolate, Kinder bar and brownie, I was thoroughly ‘chocolate-d out’.

The mince pie was also nice, but it paled in comparison next to the brownie. It was much smaller than expected and the pastry could’ve been crisper, however, the filling was generous and it had obviously been homemade so the flavours were perfectly balanced.

When the time came to go to the gig, I was sad to leave my warm, comfy nook and face the elements again. I’d much rather have stayed put and watched the world go by from this wonderful gem of a cafe.

Out of five:

Food: The brownie was utterly delicious, but the mince pie left a little to be desired so not quite five stars. The cakes on display looked very tempting. ****

Drink: We really enjoyed our hot drinks and the range of flavours was great, you could visit again and again and try something different every time. ****

Decor: Cute and cosy with hundreds of fascinating books. The place could easily be twice the size, it was very busy and it’s not the biggest space with so many people squeezed inside. ****

Staff: Our order was brought to our table in good time and the woman behind the counter was friendly and welcoming. ****

Price: The latte (£3.80) was good value, the hot chocolate was pricier (£4.70) but it tasted luxurious and high-end. The brownie (£3.30) was a great size and very tasty so no complaints there and the mince pie (£1.75) was small, but the money went to charity so I’m not going to be a grinch about it. ***