I'm mighty sorry I didn't visit Bantham Beach when I was down there, I feel I've missed something special given these recommendations, but there's always the next time, I do love Devon 
I think it was an Agatha Christie that was filmed on the Bigbury beach, a scene with a couple of the characters sunbathing, I thought wow! that looks a great beach, inspiring me to want to go there.
Oreo I do love Art Deco, I think it's one of the iconic styles of the 20th century, but like everything in life how we perceive a design is subjective. Maybe subliminally you find it sinister because it's often a backdrop up in an Agatha Christie where the inevitable murder/s feature. obviously I can read your mind 