Latest news with #MattEvans
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Is Rhodes' Old Town a tourist trap or medieval paradise?
So when The Ixian Grand & All Suites invited me to explore this beautiful part of the world, I was thrilled. Before visiting Old Town I had spent 3 amazing days in Rhodes. The food, hotel staff, suite and pool had combined to create the perfect Dodecanese marriage, but I still had a hunger for more. Well two hungers to be precise, more food and also culture. Is Greece still the place to go for the best holiday? Here's my salty experience — Matt Evans (@MTEvans1995) July 11, 2025 First impressions of the Old Town of Rhodes: The Old Town of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and it is visited by thousands of travellers every year. Palace of the Grand Master is an awe-inspiring fortress that looms ominously over Old Town. Originally built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century, it is often cited by Greek tourist boards as the definitive must-visit spot. The intricately designed back alleys and buildings are beautifully preserved and a great way to experience what life was like in the past. First impressions for me though? Well, I'd wager some folks would get bored after 15 min and others would be content to spend an entire day there. But which category did I fall under? I went to Rhodes looking for love but ended up with a goose My Old Town experience: Food was on my mind. And lots of it. Despite being thoroughly treated by The Ixian Grand & All Suites over the prior few days, I had a hunger for more. After roaming around the streets for an hour or so, I landed on the first restaurant - yes, first. A quaint tiny little Greek place tucked behind one of the cobbled streets. It was early in the day, so I fancied fish and white wine. After roaming around the streets for an hour or so, I landed on the first restaurant (Image: Newsquest) I scoured the menu and it seemed the right place for me. Plenty of different fish courses, white wine and accommodating staff who gave me a complimentary shot of Souma, then another, then another. Several locals had urged me to try the Dodecanese alternative of ouzo or raki over the previous two days. But 'proper' souma. I'll be blunt, it is essentially white spirit, as I was essentially staring at two menus by this point. A cunning ploy by the staff to be fair, as I proceeded to order the mussels and octopus, the most expensive items on the menu, but equally delicious. This was the prelude to my final Rhodes lesson. But we'll come on to that. Old Town is a bouncing, bustling, little spot brimming with, dare I say it, tourists. But in all fairness, it seems to be designed that way. The bars for example. One place has a flag for every country in the world and will set it on your table if you tell them where you're from. Genius marketing, playing on an idiot's love of country. So after I finished a pint opposite my Welsh flag, I headed to my second and final restaurant of the day for something, heavier. It was a steakhouse slap-bang in the middle of Old Town. Unlike bars and pubs, I have always held the belief there should be a different playbook for restaurants. Keep to yourself/table. This restaurant was bouncing with people from all walks of life, friends, families and a weirdo sitting alone in the middle, me. I couldn't have been in a better spot to people-watch. Just me, my T-bone steak and a glass of wine. What more could you ask for? (Image: Newsquest) But before long, Old Town was starting to get, well, old. You only need to spend a day there to sample all of its delights, or even less, personally. The downsides of Old Town: Sadly, it was at this point that the experience started to get sullied. I looked at the chuffing expensive bill and noticed I'd been charged for a couple of items I never had, so I called over the waiter and got them removed. Now I was slightly miffed. Despite that, my next recommendation awaited - the nearby village of Faliraki, as Lindos was on the complete opposite end of the island. For that, I needed a taxi. Sigh. After a 20-minute wait at a taxi rank just outside the city walls, two strangers and I were told to get in a minicab. Faliraki is 23 minutes away from Old Town, according to Google. When we got in, we were told "50 Euro for taxi", this later translated to "Everyone sharing this taxi pays 50 Euros each." 150 Euro, for a 23-minute journey. I'm not saying that every cab driver would try this, but if you're going to get a taxi, agree on a price beforehand, get a bus instead, or risk your mortgage. Rhodes, or rather, Old Town, was an incredible experience and one that I will never forget for both good and bad reasons. My hotel, The Ixian Grand & All Suites, was sensational, as were my trips out to places such as Old Town. It is, without question, stunning. An area of the world you will never likely stumble across again, with a fascinating history to back it up. But on the downside, it does have its problems. Old Town in the summer months is jam-packed with tourists which then births another problem, rip-offs. Amidst the many, many souvenir shops, bars and restaurants, you need to have your wits about you. But if you can manage that, I have no doubt the experience will be unforgettable, for the right reasons.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Is Home and Away the next Aussie soap to face the axe? ANOTHER star rumoured to be leaving the show amid mass exodus
It appears Home and Away is losing yet another beloved character, leading fans to wonder whether it may be the next soapie to leave screens. After news broke that Juliet Godwin is saying goodbye to the beloved Aussie series, rumours are circulating that another cast member is eyeing the door. According to reports, Matt Evans, who plays Theo Poulos in the series, is set to leave Summer Bay. Matt, 28, has been a regular feature on the show for three and a half years, which is longer than the usual three-year contract most stars are said to start on. However, despite being seen on set in Palm Beach in April, the star recently underwent a massive hair transformation, leading fans to believe that he's not returning to the series. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. On long-running shows, stars are often not allowed to drastically change their appearance, hence the speculation over Matt's spot on Home and Away. The actor revealed his new look on Instagram in a slew of pictures which showed him ditching his long locks for a shorter hairdo. 'Baby I'm back, @sofia_salonher nailed it,' Matt captioned the post, which showed him post-chop. The hair stylist also shared a picture of his fresh cut, adding that she was getting him 'LA ready' - another sign that Matt may be leaving the soap and eyeing up opportunities abroad. Fans were quick to question Matt's career future in the comments section. 'Really suits you! I love it! But I hope this doesn't mean the end of Theo on Home and Away? Just a theory, but usually cast aren't allowed drastic appearance changes whilst filming,' one person wrote. Another person asked: 'Will you still be on HAA (Home and Away) with this look?' 'Isn't his three-year contract up?' one person questioned. The news of Matt's potential exit from the show points to a larger problem in the soapie sphere: could Home and Away be the next TV series to get the axe? Neighbours made headlines in February after it was revealed the show would be leaving screens a second time around, less than two years after it was first revived. The Australian soap opera is currently finishing up filming after production company Fremantle failed to agree on a new deal with Amazon. The final ever episode will air at the end of 2025, with fans forced to say goodbye to Ramsay Street.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Soap star's shock exit after two years accidentally leaked online by co-star
A SOAP star's surprising exit after two years appears to have been accidentally leaked online by a co-star. Fans are speculating the actress is bowing out after a "farewell" photo was leaked on social media. 4 4 Juliet Godwin joined Home and Away back in 2022, playing Dr. Bree Cameron. In an online post, the actress can be seen enjoying a meal with a group including her castmate Matt Evans. Also present was the soap's make-up artist Amy Weems, who was celebrating her birthday. The photo caption read: "Happy birthday @amyweems15 & farewell @julietgodwin_ you beauties." This post was shared to the Home and Away Spoilers and Info Facebook page - and fans were quick to share their thoughts. One claimed Juliet had already filmed her final scenes, while another said: "Yeah she is." Left unconvinced, a third viewer penned: "Fake news." Upon arriving in the soap, Bree took over running the hospital's emergency department. The character also developed a relationship with fellow regular Remi Carter (Adam Rowland). Before landing her role in Summer Bay, Juliet appeared in an episode of The Heights. Speaking about joining Home and Away, the actress previously shared: 'I was a little bit nervous but as soon as I got in there everyone was so welcoming and so kind that the nerves kind of dispersed. "It was all very surreal; I was like pinch me, I'm here.' It comes as the soap is building towards the exit of a legendary character. Back in February, it was announced that Lynne McGranger, 72, who plays Irene Roberts in the hit Aussie soap, will be leaving the show. She made her initial debut on the Australian drama back in January 1993 and is longest-serving female actor on the show. Now the actress is preparing to say goodbye to the show as she is set to embark on her tragic farewell storyline. At the time of her initial announcement, the 72-year-old explained: "After almost 33 years in my dream role and working everyday with people who I love, respect and whom I now consider family, it's bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life. "I am forever grateful to the best production crew in the world and to our genius writers – whose doors are always open – for everything they have done for Irene over the past 33-odd years. "And I am so proud of the storyline which will see Irene out of the Bay. "Above all, a massive, heartfelt thank you to the fans for your continued love and support." 4
Axios
30-06-2025
- Axios
2 shot near Stonewall in hours after NYC Pride March
A shooting near Manhattan's historic Stonewall Inn hours after New York City's Pride March on Sunday night has left two people hospitalized with injuries, per the NYPD. The big picture: One person was in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head and the other was shot in the leg in the incident in Greenwich Village, said New York City Police Department Sgt. Matt Evans in a brief phone interview.
Finextra
12-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
PNC rolls out mobile payment acceptance tool for mciro-businesses
PNC Bank announced the launch of PNC Mobile Accept, a fully integrated payment solution that provides its micro business clients with the ability to accept in-person credit and debit card payments directly within the PNC Mobile app. 0 Designed for businesses processing less than $300,000 in credit and debit card transactions annually, PNC Mobile Accept is a self-service solution that gives business owners fast, secure access to accept funds directly from their phone or tablet with no monthly fee. 'Micro businesses are often left behind by traditional card payment solutions due to high fees, restrictive card programs and approval delays,' said Matt Evans, head of PNC Merchant Services for Small Businesses. 'With PNC Mobile Accept, we're meeting small businesses where they are, delivering enterprise-grade payments capabilities at micro business scale - fast, affordable, and accessible.' PNC Mobile Accept enables card payments through manual entry or via a pocket-sized reader that supports tap, dip, or swipe transactions. The solution boasts enhanced features like tax-and-tip functionality, cardholder data encryption, and near real-time transaction tracking, bringing consumer-grade ease to business-grade payments. Additionally, business owners can accept card payments from all credit card providers and access funds from transactions typically within two business days. This solution is ideal for micro businesses that are always on the go, and until now, lacked an easy way to accept card payments. PNC small business clients with an active PNC business checking account can apply for PNC Mobile Accept in all PNC Bank branches and online.
