"Checking in to a hotel in an unfamiliar place, it is tempting to book one 's first evening meal in the hotel 's restaurant (unless, of course, one has had chance to research the alternatives beforehand . This may seem a safe option, but is often a mistake, as it was on my visit to Ipswich. Had I only known that a minute 's walk along the quayside would have taken me to Mariners, I should have eaten there twice rather than only once! A floating restaurant can often prove to be a bit of a gimmick, but Mariners seemed to get good reviews so, on night two, I gave it a try. A beautifully restored and maintained Dutch customs gunboat from 1900, with gleaming brass and polished woodwork, the restaurant offers a limited, but well-constructed, menu to satisfy most tastes. Being aboard a boat, I opted for seafood, and was not disappointed. There being an R in the month , mussels were a good choice for my starter, followed by a seafood skewer , presented with just enough theatre to be amusing but not over the top. Not fine dining , perhaps, but well-prepared, nicely presented and very satisfying dishes at reasonable prices. A limited wine list, perhaps a bit on the pricey side, but the Picpoul de Pinet proved to be an excellent accompaniment without over-stressing the credit card. Service struck just the right balance between politeness and friendliness. My fellow diners embraced the whole age spectrum (I was by far the oldest! weighted perhaps towards the younger end, the common factor being that everyone (myself included was clearly enjoying themself. There are many other dining venues along the Ipswich quayside that my brief visit did not allow me to try, but Mariners can be recommended as a safe and enjoyable bet."
