As it was bright, sunny and crisp on Christmas morning, we decided to work up an appetite for our anticipated big lunch by taking a brisk stroll along the seafront promenade westwards towards Hove.

On arrival at the Peace Statue on the Brighton/Hove border, we were delighted to find the lovely Meeting Place Cafe, right by the sea, open for business as usual and doing a roaring trade.

This was an ideal opportunity to break our walk for a well-deserved stop and enjoy a coffee, which we were not really expecting on Christmas Day.

Judging by the considerable queues, with at least seven staff coping well with the trade they had certainly earned, they were fulfilling a definite need. How very enterprising of them.

An unexpected bonus came when not only were we offered brandy in our drinks if we wished but also an invitation to help ourselves to a free selection of seasonal goodies on offer on a nearby counter, including mince pies, slices of gateaux, cream cakes, cheesecake, chocolates of various descriptions and a varied selection of marvellous petit fours.

What a wonderful gesture on Christmas morning by the management of this little waterside cafe which, judging by the enthusiastic comments we heard, were much appreciated by one and all.

Well done, I say. This is the way to foster customers and I wish the cafe every success in 2005. After such welcoming hospitality, we'll definitely be back.

-Ena Krabappel (Mrs), Brighton