We visit the 'homely' new Bristol cafe where you can start the day with a ‘full English’ breakfast or a curry

Located on Avonvale Road in Barton Hill, the newly opened Cafe Conscious, was a Jamaican restaurant for nine and a half years.

The venue was renovated into a community cafe last year and was originally meant to open its doors to the public at the end of last year but it was postponed and finally opened this week.

In recent weeks, Cafe Conscious was a lifeline for many evacuated residents from the nearby Barton House tower block. 

Owner Deniece Dixon, along with her team of volunteers, worked around the clock providing support, information, essential supplies, hot meals, drinks and a safe space for those affected.

The menu is written on the wall on chalkboards and includes a small English breakfast (one sausage, one bacon, one hashbrown, beans/tomatoes/toast/fried bread and an egg) for £6.50.

There’s also a huge full English called the ‘Barton Hill Bad Boy’ (three sausages, three bacon, three hash brown, beans/tomatoes, black pudding, three eggs, toast/fried bread, chips and a tea or coffee) for £12.

There are cakes for £1, jacket potatoes from £3.50, sandwiches from £3 and baguettes from £3.50. There is also a specials menu including lentil soup with bread and butter for £4 and halal mincemeat soup with dumplings, rice or bread for £5.

We decided to visit the cafe for lunch and were pleasantly surprised by the generous portions.

I ordered turmeric potatoes curry and rice with a salad for £5 from the specials menu, a slice of freshly made banana cake for £1 and a tropical juice carton for £1. 

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The curry, rice and salad came on separate plates in case you don’t want to mix them. The rice was fluffy and warm, the potato curry was mildly spiced and bursting with flavour.

The side salad of cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce was a cool and refreshing contrast to the hot curry and rice. The slice of banana cake was not overly sweet, really soft, moist and filling.

Overall, it was an extremely filling meal for a very cheap price, and the cafe had a homely atmosphere and friendly staff.

Cafe Conscious is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm and is cash only (there are ATMs in the shops next to the cafe but they charge a small fee). The 36 bus stop is next to the cafe.

Cafe Conscious, 182 Avonvale Road, Bristol, BS5 9SX.