People queued patiently in Maple Road this morning (Saturday) to buy bread, croissants, cakes and coffee from The French Tarte.

The Surbiton café-pâtisserie-boulangerie is now open from Wednesdays to Saturdays, 9.30am to 2pm, much to the delight of its regulars and those who are looking forward to treating themselves to some quality bakes during these difficult times.

Chef and baker Eric Guignard, pictured, who runs the French Tarte with wife Sarah, was welcoming customers who had either turned up on spec to queue in the sunshine or who had pre-ordered and were picking up their goodies from a table set up outside, manned by the couple’s 15-year-old son Clement.

Sarah and eldest son Brice were busy inside making takeaway coffees and bagging or boxing Eric’s speciality salads and breads, quiches, home-made cakes and tarts, pastries and baguettes

The cafe is giving a 10 per cent discount to NHS workers and carers.

“We are really pleased we’re back,” said Eric. “In fact we needed to come back. I’ve always wanted to do takeaways but we have always been too busy, but this is a good chance to try it out.”

Eric said the couple, who own fine dining restaurant The French Table nextdoor and who also run The Tarte in the Park in Victoria Recreation ground off Balaclava Road, plan to do takeaway evening meals too. Watch this space!