I went to the seaside town of Southwold recently. Southwold is a bit of a throwback as seaside towns go as it has a range of specialist shops and a lack of chains (Costa Coffee closed) and it seems to be thriving,
Some find it a bit pretentious (or the people in it according to friends and a colleague) but I rather like it.
It has a brewery and a fine church.
The pier is thriving and is equally old fashioned.
The reason for being in Southwold was nearby Pieathlon at Dunwich Heath. These were from the beach