We tried vegan cake and coffee at Joy Connection café on Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds

We visited Joy Connection in Bury St Edmunds to see if it would keep four children entertained on a drizzly morning in the school holidays.

Moments after stepping through the door my two had kicked their shoes off and were heading up the stairs to explore the venue, described as a family focused café and creative hub.

Though slightly mortified I was assured by co-owner Hanny that this a regular occurrence, something she puts down to how comfortable children feel while there.

Upstairs we found a pop-up haircut session in one room and babies playing with their parents in another.

We settled down in the middle area which has seating, toys, books and plenty of colourful artwork.

Mums and grandparents chatted, as they passed through the room chasing after various children, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.

Our group was made up of two mums, a nine-year-old, a three-year-old, a four-year-old and a one-year-old.

So it wasn’t long until we decamped downstairs on the hunt for coffee, cake and more toys.

Hanny was amazingly patient as I attempted to order a decaf flat white, mocha, various cartons of fruit juice, carrot cake and a large slab of chocolate brownie.

All the cakes sold at Joy Connection are vegan and sourced from Allison's Eatery on the Howard Estate.

Milk options are also vegan: oat, almond, soya and coconut.

Though there was only a small selection of sweet treats to choose from, the brownie and carrot cake were delicious and we all enjoyed trying them.

As it headed towards lunchtime, with no sign of anyone wanting to leave, the kids tucked into their packed lunches and snacks.

Most cafés won’t let parents bring in their own food, but the owners of Joy Connection really have grasped how to make their venue properly accessible for families.

There are also plenty of cosy nooks for those breastfeeding to find a quiet spot to feed their little ones, and an indoor and outdoor buggy park.

At the till and around the café there are a wide selection of items available to buy, all created by local artists.

Prices range from £1 to more than £40, meaning there really is something for everyone.

The art on the walls and the decor was beautiful and I completely agreed with my daughter when she called it a ‘lovely place’.

Hanny, who opened Joy Connection alongside her friend Nicki in November, was friendly to everyone who walked through the door.

As mainly my children made a mess with toys and crumbs, she reassured me that it was fine.

Spending time at Joy Connection with my friend and her boys it really felt like we had stepped inside a really welcoming, perfectly decorated home.

Eventually us adults decided it was time to get some fresh air.

But all four children, even my sceptical nine-year-old, were adamant they didn’t want to leave.

A testament to how much they enjoyed themselves.