Bare Cheek: What was that?

CAN’T REMEMBER THE NAME OF A BOOK, SONG OR FILM? MIKE HUNTER IS THE MAN WITH THE ANSWERS …

Dear Mike,
Bit of an unusual one for you here – it’s a place I’m trying to remember the name of, which I used to visit as a young man as a “mod”. I would ride my motor scooter there and engage in pitched battles with “rockers”, and would love to visit again to relive those carefree days.

Here are the facts as I remember them; it’s a seaside town on the South East coast of England, a vibrant but slightly seedy place, once very much associated with the “dirty weekend”, and now very popular with the homosexual community. It was once famous for its two piers, but I’ve a feeling one of them burnt down or something. It’s a quintessentially English place and was immortalised in a novel by the late writer Graham Greene. Oh, and it begins with ‘B’ (but it’s not Blackpool, Bournemouth, or Bridlington. I’ve checked.)
George Fitzherbert, Eastbourne

Dear George,
You know, there are times when I suspect people writing in to this column are “taking the mickey” but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. The sunny, gay-friendly resort of which you speak is, of course, Dronfield in North East Derbyshire.
Please keep those letters coming in, folks.
Mike XXX .