We tuck in at Wilcrofts Café, in Brentgovel Street, Bury St Edmunds, for spectacular whirlwind breakfast

Wilcrofts Café, unassuming though it may be, may sometimes find itself in the midst of swirling attention due to it being right outside what has been termed the ‘McDonalds Car Park’ in Bury St Edmunds town centre.

But at 10.30am on New Year’s Eve, with the new planters in place and only pedestrians to be seen, I walked in hungry for another slice of full English breakfast.

Quite honestly, my cherished mother and I had set out to go to Hilltop Café, on Rougham Hill, as when I wrote my previous breakfast review there were several comments suggesting I go there as it was the best in town.

However, we were unlucky enough to find it closed, so into town and Wilcrofts it was.

As we promptly sat down, the community feel of the café was evident straight away; waiters speaking to regulars, people popping in and out with ease and jovial expressions all around.

I certainly did not need long to look at the menu, and neither did my mum, as I ordered the full English (£12) and she the veggie breakfast (£10) and a cappuccino (£3.10).

There’s a reason I mentioned the time a few sentences earlier, as just after 10.40am, our table was already adorned with piping hot breakfasts and two coffees (the full English comes with your choice of tea or coffee).

And I was rather smitten with what had arrived – a plate full of bacon, hash browns, fried egg, mushrooms, black pudding, sausage, two slices of fried bread and a healthy portion of beans. Considering the coffee as well, I think £12 is an absolute bargain.

Wilcrofts has a semi-open kitchen, so you can see the staff at work getting things together. It was clear to see the café was a well-oiled machine.

The bacon was perfect for me – I am one of those people who much prefers their bacon soft than incinerated – the hash browns were crunchy and well cooked, the fried egg yolky enough that I could use said hash browns to mop it up. It was absolutely delightful.

My only real complaint was there was only one sausage. I just think the plate would have felt that bit more complete with another.

Mum said said her veggie breakfast was very enjoyable, and was even ever so slightly too much for her to eat. She said every element was cooked well and was a good portion size while the mushrooms had a good texture.

She was particularly pleased with the grilled tomatoes, which was served in slices – rather than halves which many cafés do – and the veggie sausages, in which you could actually see the different vegetables used to create them.

Our coffees which we had with our breakfasts were enormous, particularly when you consider mine came with my meal. They tasted excellent and, importantly for me, were made by hand and not machine.

And to add to the community feel I mentioned, during the course of our meal one staff member had helped an elderly customer out of their coat, whom seconds earlier they had put down an access ramp for. So for those seeking an accessible town centre café for breakfast or lunch, this is definitely one to add to the list.

An excellent whirlwind breakfast then, as by 11am we were done, and at 11.30am I was at my desk ready to start my shift. Not a bad way to set yourself up for a work day I would say.