AS both my parents served in the Royal Navy, I have always had an affinity for all things nautical.
Whether it be my love of seafood or seafaring, I've always thought it's just more fun on the coast.
So I hopped on a train to Plymouth to check out Moxy Hotel's new 200-room venture.
And Moxy, known for its fun and funky establishments, is the perfect brand to be at the heart of the vibrant new waterfront quarter close to the city centre.
https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/19606351.review-moxy-birmingham-nec/
I was immediately struck by the nautically-themed lobby, with murals depicting ships and fishing scenes adorning the walls.
Moxy's philosophy is to give guests a fun, laid back stay, hence the bedroom was ship-shape and functional but not so luxurious you want to spend all day there.
The Moxy crew want you down at the bar, socialising or taking advantage of one of the many games on offer - the table football proving particularly popular with the kids.
And there's even a free photobooth for fun snaps to record your visit.
However, after enjoying a refreshing complimentary Moxy's cocktail - given to all guests - it was time to discover this naval city.
The Moxy is within walking distance of the delightful Barbican district, with its cobbled streets and independent shops and Plymouth Hoe with its cafes and scenic views of the bay.
But our first port of call was the National Marine Aquarium - the UK's biggest - which is soon to feature in a BBC series.
Secrets of the Aquarium will air on BBC2 in the next couple of months.
We were given a taste of what viewers will see with a behind the scenes tour including feeding Friday the Turtle, who is sure to be a hit with the animal-loving public.
The aquarium is launching a Feed the Turtle experience this month (£140 for four people) in which visitors can book a VIP trip to help prepare Friday's veggie dishes and feed the hungry turtle who is in good shape for his mid-40s.
https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/17768589.viva-havana-cuba-must-see-discerning-traveller/
For general punters the highlight is the Atlantic Ocean habitat , the largest and deepest tank in the UK, which also houses Sand Tiger sharks and stingrays, among others.
The dining scene in Plymouth is certainly on the up and thankfully, we didn't have to venture far to find a top-notch restaurant that evening.
Salumi is literally a stone's thrown from the hotel and what a treat it was.
From the friendly, efficient service from waiter Alfie to the flavoursome food and quality wine it was a most convivial evening.
It was recently awarded two AA rosettes and you could see why.
The varied menu included classics such as fish and chips and quirky dishes like the bao buns which were a big hit with our group, as were the fairground doughnuts.
Salumi combined the look of a big city restaurant with the feel of your local eaterie.
After a pleasant night's sleep, it was time to sample Moxy's breakfast buffet which included the traditional cooked fare with a fine range of cereals, pastries and ham, cheeses etc.
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For a different perspective on Western Europe's largest naval port, we sailed with Plymouth Boat Trips around the harbour and beyond which included excellent views of the city, Hoe - where Sir Francis Drake famously played bowls, Drake's Island and the naval dockyard at Devonport.
Having found our sealegs, upon our return we boarded another boat from the Barbican, to sail over to the Royal William Yard.
The historic area used to house the navy's stores.
Now, it has been transformed by stylish apartments, eateries and boutique shops and we were delighted to find the independent Hook and Line restaurant.
As its name suggests, it serves an extensive selection of seafood caught by its own fleet of fishing boats.
Co-owner Steve Page was clearly passionate about the restaurant and is on a mission to provide the freshest, tastiest dishes he can.
I shared a seafood platter, crammed with clams, prawns, insalate de mare, oysters, langoustines and sardines among the usual favourites.
It was a seafood sensation and my colleagues equally enjoyed their various fish dishes.
This is a must for seafood lovers. Unfortunately, we didn't have time on our schedule to enjoy the city's first speciality rum bar - also on the premises.
However, we made amends with a very informative and fun tasting of Plymouth's very own gin - aptly named Plymouth Gin.
Our guide Kirsty was great fun and took us through the smells and tastes of four different gins.
Such was the quality of the gins on offer, our group of six all chose at least one of each as their favourite.
We were lucky to have an exclusive session at the Moxy but I can thoroughly recommend the gin tasting at the distillery, which follows the same format, and comes in at a wallet-friendly £15.
We dropped by England’s oldest working distillery, which dates from 1793, before departing to stock up on a bottle and visited the cozy gin bar where the tastings take place.
What a delightful venue. One to return to on my next visit to Plymouth, where I'll certainly stay at another - the Moxy.
FACTBOX
MOXY PLYMOUTH
200 guest rooms from £89 per night.
24 hour gym
Dog friendly
Contact: 01752 422237
https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/travel/nqypo-moxy-plymouth/
Plymouth is well served by the train network.
Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, flies directly to nearby Exeter airport from major cities including Glasgow and Newcastle.
The Glasgow-based carrier operates a fleet of more than 35 aircraft and carries over 1.5 million passengers each year across a network of almost 100 routes linking the UK, Isle of Man, Ireland and Scandinavia.
The airline flies to more UK airports than every other airline combined.
Fares are inclusive of 15kg hold luggage, 6kg hand luggage and inflight refreshments. Book direct at loganair.co.uk.
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