This week, I thought I’d pay a visit to what might be the smallest café in the county to see if size really does matter.

The Little Old Toll House, hidden away on Allington Lock in Maidstone, is a small but mighty spot by the water that, despite its miniature stature, still manages to catch your eye as you stroll along the river.

I’m not sure whether it’s the deck chairs dotted along the grass or the spattering of chalkboard menus covering the front of the building..

We arrived at around 10.30am on a very sunny Saturday and almost every chair and table was taken. It quickly became clear this is a popular spot among locals who know the lock well.

We managed to grab the one free table, which was tucked under a large willow tree and, after what you might call a ‘heavy’ Friday night, provided some very welcome shade out of the sunlight.

We scanned over the many menus, which included a large list of drinks such as hot and iced coffees, milkshakes, fresh juices; a cake menu with flavours from a raspberry ripple slice to carrot cake; and savoury snacks, including sausage rolls, cheese twists and vegetable pasties.

It was a shame not to see any sandwiches or toasties on the menu, as I was really in the mood for something along those lines, but perhaps that was more of a lunchtime offering.

Instead, we opted for a couple of the vegan sausage rolls, which were just under £3 each, a blueberry muffin and a vegan, gluten-free flapjack. We also selected the fresh orange juice, which sounded like heaven to me, and a latte to complete our breakfast.

The service was quick and pleasant, and within a minute we had armfuls of warm pastries and cakes to take back to our table.

We started on the sausage roll. The pastry was light and flaky, and it was less salty and more ‘meaty’ than one you might pick up from a well-known chain bakery - I won’t name names, but I think you can take a guess.

The sweet treats were just as delightful. The flapjack was very sweet and sticky, while the blueberry muffin was soft and fruity without being over-the-top sugary.

We finished off our meal by sipping our drinks while watching someone successfully moor their narrowboat at the water’s edge after very nearly colliding with the boat in front.

My juice was tangy and fresh with lots of lovely orange bits, which I personally prefer, and the latte was fine - you can’t go too far wrong with a latte, but there’s something particularly relaxing about a nice coffee on a Saturday morning.

The food was nice, but not outstanding, and what I expect most people actually come here for is the atmosphere.

Not only is this quaint café set along the lock which, on this particular morning, glistened with sunlight and was lined with beautiful boats providing a picturesque view, but it’s also incredibly warm and inviting.

There were dog treats and drinking bowls, free blankets to use if it got chilly and lots of options for different dietary requirements.

I left feeling like real thought had been given to customer needs and experience, despite the fact that no customers actually step foot inside the café.

With its perfect riverside location and utterly charming atmosphere, it’s easy to see why this small café packs a big punch.

Out of five:

Food: Lots to choose from and all tasted fresh and good quality ****

Drink: The fresh orange juice really hit the spot after a late night, and the latte was decent too ****

Decor: The quirky decor, with colourful signs, chalk menus and deckchairs, really makes this small building inviting, and the views are amazing *****

Staff: It was a brief exchange, but the server was pleasant enough ****

Price: £3.75 for a flapjack felt a touch steep, but everything else was a good price ***