We discovered this quaint café just outside Derby and fell in love with its sun-trap lounge

Changing clocks and Christmas peeking around the corner means plummeting temperatures and darker days are on the horizon too.

I love the sunshine and would happily give up cake for life if it meant lovely warm weather all year round. So imagine my surprise when during a recent visit to a local coffee shop, I discovered it was the perfect place to enjoy the sun.

Yes, I know a coffee shop sounds unlikely as a place to catch a few rays of sunshine, however, Buttermilk Coffee House is surprisingly good when it comes to showcasing fabulous hot sunshine on a cold autumn day.

Buttermilk Coffee House has been on my list to visit since last year and I finally made time to visit it last weekend. It is a short 20-minute drive from Derby city centre and free parking onsite is available.

There is an al fresco seating area near the entrance and tables outside were busy when we entered the building, and also when we left.

Wooden tables and framed artwork with cute quotes such as ‘It’s never too early to eat cake’ and ‘It’s always time for tea’ make you feel comfortable and welcome. The staff were extremely friendly and with big smiles that I found infectious.

The menu itself provided a compact lunch offering, from creamy garlic mushrooms to halloumi burgers and BLT flatbreads.

I opted for the chipotle chicken panini that came with a side salad and coleslaw.

As I am unable to eat mayonnaise due to allergies, I wasn’t able to eat the coleslaw.

I wanted to add bacon to my toastie but they had run out, so I added an extra ingredient of chilli jam.

The sandwich was cheesy and it had a decent filling, but it didn’t blow my mind. I am not sure this is something I would order again.

However, I also ordered a side of truffle fries which were very good. I especially liked the pool of truffle oil at the bottom of the bowl and would have liked it even more if there had been more of an even distribution over the fries.

There was also a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, which married well with the fragrant truffle to create a flavour-packed mouthful.

My dining partner had the quiche of the day.

The pastry had a good crumb to it, the filling was well seasoned, and it was enjoyed by the eater.

Another diner had creamy garlic mushrooms.

Pan-fried mushrooms in garlicky, oregano cream provided ramped up the hug-on-a-plate vibe whilst being one of the strongest dishes ordered at our table.

Decent food and attentive customer service aside, what blew me away was the sun streaming through large windows that flank both aspects of the building.

It warmed me and my soul, magically transporting me to the Caribbean which I was fortunate to visit last year.

The ambiance and how the building makes me feel - as if I have just been given a warm, welcoming hug - is what will make me return to Buttermilk.

Other dishes that I am keen to explore on the Buttermilk menu include Halloumi Burger and Brie Bites.

What I ate at Buttermilk Derby and its cost

Elderflower and rose pressé £3.35

English Breakfast Tea £3.10

Quiche of the Day £9.90

Creamy Garlic Mushrooms £9.85

Truffle Fries £5.50

Panini £9.60

Total £41.30

Address: Buttermilk, 335 Main Road, Brailsford Green, Brailsford, Ashbourne DE6 3DA

For more information about Buttermilk Coffee House visit their website by clicking here.