We visit a classic Bristol greasy spoon cafe that serves huge breakfasts and all-day roast dinners

On a cold and grey winter morning, East Street in Bedminster doesn’t have a holiday vibe - at least, not until you step inside the Sunshine Cafe.

The walls of this popular greasy spoon are adorned with colourful photos of Turkey to remind the owners of home as they flip the bacon and eggs on the sizzling griddle.

And it’s not just the huge murals on the wall that give this cheery cafe a summery feel - there are even backlit panels of blue skies and fluffy, cotton wool-like clouds on the ceiling.

Bright, spotlessly clean and with genuinely friendly staff who welcome every customer as if they’re a regular, the Sunshine Cafe really is a classic example of a proper greasy spoon.

The laminated menu lists dozens of dishes apart from the classic breakfast options. It’s tailored for a wide range of customers, which on the day I visited included pensioners, families and lots of construction workers in hi-vis bibs from the many nearby building sites.

There are chicken dishes, homemade lasagne and chilli con carne, pies, omelettes and specials like liver and bacon or ‘gammon delight’. They even serve roast dinners - lamb, beef, pork or chicken - all day every day.

The current owners have run the place for 13 years and they clearly know exactly what their loyal customers want, and prices are perfectly pitched.

But it’s the cooked breakfasts that most people order and there are seven set breakfast options, plus a handful of specials.

The cheapest set breakfast is £6.50 (egg, bacon, sausage, hash brown and beans) and the most expensive is the amusingly named ‘Hangry Breakfast’ (£11) which comprises two eggs, two bacon, sausage, burger, black pudding, mushrooms, hash brown, tinned tomatoes, chips, beans and fried bread.

All breakfasts are served with tea or coffee, toast or bread and butter, which makes them even more affordable compared to places that charge extra for these.

I went for the ‘set six’ which is apparently one of the best-sellers. For £8.50, I was served a huge plate of two fried eggs, two bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, hash brown, black pudding and beans.

Each item was piping hot and perfectly cooked. It was as good as any cooked breakfast I’ve had this year, washed down with brick-coloured builders' tea with the teabag and spoon still in the steaming mug.

After paying up and heading for the door, the staff shouted their thanks and ‘see you again’ even though it was my first visit. It certainly won’t be my last.

This East Street institution is simply one of the best old school greasy spoons in Bristol - you could say it’s a genuine ray of sunshine.

Sunshine Cafe, 9 East Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4HB.