I visited pretty UK seaside town dubbed Hackney-on-Sea - one thing surprised me

The seaside town of in has become an increasingly popular spot with hipster cafés, a thriving art scene, new art galleries, and independent shops that have earned it the nickname 'Hackney-on-Sea'. The town's transformation is hard to miss with its array of trendy restaurants and cafes like the Blue Pelican, The Lane, Updown Farmhouse or Deal Pier Kitchen, along with stunning art galleries like the Linden Hall Studio. Deal has a bustling and vibrant atmosphere, especially on the weekends with its weekly market and all those that come down from for a refreshing escape by the sea.

Despite all these fresh updates, however, I was surprised to find that the pier, a key landmark of the town for more than 70 years, felt quite different from what I was expecting. Deal Pier has seen significant investment in recent years, including over £1 million in improvements such as resurfacing, new seating, and lighting, though it does seem to have quite a weathered look.

The pier certainly differs from the traditional seaside piers you might expect from a trendy town dubbed Hackney on Sea.

While many typical piers in the UK are packed with several cafés, places to eat, amusement arcades, roller coasters, and a mix of shops, Deal Pier can feel somewhat sparse, with only an ice cream shop, an angling shop and the Deal Pier Kitchen.

The Deal Pier Kitchen, however, is a great surprise that you don't see from the beach and can only see as you approach it on the pier.

From far away it just looks as though it's a pier with nothing on it but as you approach the stylish café and restaurant you'll find it serves delicious food with more than stunning sea views right on the sea and right opposite nearby France.

The pier has a past and a history stretching over 70 years.

What's interesting is that Deal Pier, built in 1957 after two previous piers were destroyed, is a strikingly minimalist structure compared to the more ornate Victorian piers in other seaside towns, like Brighton, for example.

Just a short walk from the pier, I found something else right on the seafront that surprised me - the old Regent Cinema that has been left entirely abandoned and derelict.

While the town has been bustling with new energy, this abandoned building stands in stark contrast. Originally built as a pavilion in 1928 and later converted into a cinema, the Regent has remained derelict since 2009, despite its rich history.

Many locals are hopeful that it could one day return to its cinematic roots as a space that can once again serve the community in a new, revitalised form.

Deal's mix of old and new is perhaps part of its charm and what actually makes it such a unique place.

While the town embraces modernity with its hipster cafes, trendy eateries, and local art scene, there are still visible traces of its past and history.

The pier and the Regent Cinema may not give that trendy revamped feel like much of the town, but they definitely form an important part of the town's identity, with a fascinating mix of historical spots that can seem trapped in time while the town is also moving forward.

In a way, one could argue that's also what makes Deal different to other seaside spots.