Having only ever visited Ipswich once before and some time ago at that I was keen to see how it had changed.

No visit to the town which is the birthplace of actor Ralph Fiennes is complete without a trip to the harbour where there is a vibrant array of bars restaurants and hotels and this was our base for our stay.

On arrival at The Salthouse Harbour Hotel my wife and I received a warm welcome from staff before making our way to our room.

Seeing as this was the last leg of our honeymoon, we thought we would end it in style with a stay in one of the penthouse suites.

As we opened the door we were greeted by a luxurious bedroom which flowed through to a lounge area all of which was enhanced by the floor to ceiling window, giving stunning views across the harbour.

This four-star hotel has lovingly been restored, rejuvenated and extended by the current owners, who have introduced unusual art and eye-catching sculptures to complement the new surroundings and decor perfectly.

After making ourselves at home, we stepped out to explore the harbour, taking in the sights of all the variety of ships moored alongside. One such vessel had even been converted into a restaurant!

Even on a Sunday afternoon, there was a vibrant feel to the place, with people taking the opportunity to soak up the sun while indulging in a bite to eat and a relaxing drink.

After a spot of sight-seeing we had worked up a healthy appetite and couldn’t wait to sample the delights of the hotel’s restaurant.

For my wife, it just had to be the pan-fried scallops with fennel, cucumber and orange, while I opted for grilled asparagus, goats cheese and egg yolk. For our main courses, we chose veal rump with carrot, quinoa, turnips and wild garlic and pan-fried cod with potato puree, smoked haddock, mustard emulsion and confit egg yolk.

As we delved into our starters, we couldn’t help but notice an array of fascinating knick-knacks dotted around the restaurant, and as attractive as they were, they didn’t distract us from the first-class, quality dishes placed before us.

Now call me predictable, and I’m sure my wife probably will, I couldn’t resist choosing Neal’s Yard cheeses to conclude our meal. A sumptuous selection of cheese served with biscuits and date and apple chutney.

The lady who was waiting on us, explained that the head chef is constantly looking for fresh local produce when he’s not in the kitchen. He has a passion for supporting Suffolk’s small- holders and independent producers.

Having eaten a little more than we should, we retired to our stylish penthouse to watch the lights dance along the harbour as darkness fell.

There could have only been one way to end our stay at the hotel and that was with a full English breakfast in bed overlooking the sun-drenched harbour – Simply heavenly.