AS Britain shivered, I was wandering along a sandy beach in Cyprus in dazzling 21C sunshine.

At the water’s edge, a family relaxed on sunloungers while a man struck yoga poses.

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And even in winter, the water was warm enough for a dip.

Summer party hot spot Ayia Napa may be slumbering until the spring, but lovely Larnaca, just 40 minutes away, continues to welcome a more relaxed traveller in the depths of winter.

That was my cue to discover just how much there is to do out of season on this Mediterranean island — and brighten up an otherwise dreary winter.

Food would play a starring role — and I was about to go meze mad.

First up was Larnaca itself, where the new Rise Street Art Hotel has brought a fantastic funkiness to the city.

Street art is everywhere in this place, from the fabulous facade to the rooms and the rooftop bar, where guests get a free welcome drink.

It is a handy base for exploring the city’s Finikoudes Beach and its palm-shaded promenade, where Militzis Restaurant tempted me with its lavish meze.

Appetisers of creamy tahini dip, tzatziki and salad topped with halloumi set me up for kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb), grilled chicken and pork souvlaki.

These are all dishes I’ve had many times before, but there’s something very appealing about eating authentic Cypriot food by the sea on the island itself.

It was an enticing taste of things to come.

After a nose around Larnaca’s food market and the colourful streets of the old town, I headed off to the village of Skarinou near the foothills of the Troodos Mountains.

There, I was given a masterclass in how to make halloumi, the “squeaky” cheese from Cyprus.

It is now found all around the world — but this stuff was the real deal, and bursting with intense flavour.

It was one of the activities offered by Golden Donkeys Farm, one of Europe’s biggest sanctuaries for the animals — and one of the cutest places I’ve ever seen.

It was hard not to go gaga over these gorgeous beasts, along with adorable baby goats and their mothers, whose milk is used for that wonderful halloumi.

The milk from the donkeys, meanwhile, goes into products in the farm’s shop, from face creams to a lovely liqueur rather like Baileys.

There was a quick stop at the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, whose ruins date back to at least 7,000BC, before heading to lunch at Dragon Nest in the village of Pentakomo.

Before I could say the word meze, I had plates of tahini dip (my new addiction), moreish courgette patties and possibly the best kleftiko in Cyprus laid in front of me.

I was going to need all that protein for a hike the following morning after recharging my energy at the cosy Petit Palais Boutique Hotel in the village of ­Platres.

Set in the Troodos Mountains, the village has an almost Alpine feeling and is a great starting point for some exhilarating hikes.

Autumnal forests

My goal was the Caledonian Waterfall Walking Trail.

This two-hour hike took me through autumnal forests and past waterfalls and rushing streams — with a few tricky log bridges and stepping stones to keep me on my toes.

Here in the Troodos range, I was discovering a different side of Cyprus.

And when I arrived in Marathasa Winery, high above the village of Oikos, I thought I had landed in a James Bond lair.

Perched on a hilltop, the ultra-modern winery and bar features huge windows that give fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and villages below.

It was an enchanting place to try exceptional local wines, including the crisp white xynisteri, which quickly became a favourite.

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The winery’s owner, John Papadouris, has brought abandoned vineyards back to life, but didn’t stop there.

He has also rejuvenated parts of the neighbouring village of Kalopanayiotis, including Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village Hotel & Spa.

Its Byzantino restaurant has another winning meze, this time with tomato and vegetable fritters and slow-cooked rabbit added to the mix.

Afterwards, I wandered round Kalopanayiotis’s pretty lanes, breathing in scents of mulled wine from the food stalls in the glittering festive market, one of the isle’s seven official Christmas Villages that run from late November till mid-January.

Soon, though, it was time to head back to the coast, and Cyprus’s second-largest city, Limassol.

The recently-opened five-star City of Dreams Mediterranean, near Lady’s Mile Beach, offers 500 stylish rooms and a huge casino alongside excellent restaurants, a spa and a massive pool complex with an adventure park, waterslides and wave pool.

Enchanting place

Some of the outdoor pools close for the winter, but not the Beach Pool, which is surrounded by sand and loungers for lazy days in the sun.

There was still Limassol to explore, especially its buzzing Old Town with lanes filled with bars, restaurants, outdoor terraces and people enjoying the mild evening air.

It was the perfect place for a stroll after another mega Med meze — this time a seafood extravaganza at Afxentis Fish Restaurant. Dish after dish arrived — calamari, prawns, mussels, octopus, sea bream, red mullet. All divine.

Sea, sunshine, superb food, Cypriot hospitality and beautiful landscapes — all I needed for a blissful winter escape.

Ministers are exploring plans to hand ownership of the Post Office to thousands of sub-postmasters across the UK, sources have told the BBC.

The proposal is in its early stages and is one of many under consideration.

The Department for Business and Trade has asked management consultancy BCG to explore the possible ownership model, as first reported by Sky News.

The business secretary expects to receive a report in the coming months, a government source said.

Sub-postmasters are responsible for the everyday management of more than 11,500 post offices across the UK.

In July, former business secretary Sir Vince Cable told the Post Office inquiry that he had wanted to “address the imbalance” between the Post Office and sub-postmasters by creating a “mutual structure”.

He said he had raised some of these issues with the then Post Office boss Paula Vennells, but the change “unfortunately never came to fruition”.

Instead, the Post Office was split from the Royal Mail group under Sir Vince’s watch and remains a government-owned company.

The relationship between the Post Office and the sub-postmasters has received widespread attention following the Horizon scandal.

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted after the faulty Horizon IT accounting system made it look like money was missing from branch accounts.

It has been called the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice.

Hundreds of affected sub-postmasters took legal action against the Post Office in 2019, led by Sir Alan Bates – with some still waiting to be compensated.

An ITV drama about the case in January sparked renewed public interest in the scandal.

The Metropolitan Police said it was investigating the Post Office for possible fraud committed at the time.

KIDS love getting into the Halloween spirit.

But parents will be horrified to learn that seven million scary costumes are thrown away in the UK each year.

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That’s a lot of money wasted for one day of the year.

To save your purse, and the planet, try these tricks and treats . . . 

SWAP SHOP: Halloween costume swaps are popping up across the country.

Check out local libraries, community hubs and Facebook groups to see if there is one near you.

If not, you could organise your own.

Set a date, put the word out among friends, school groups or social media and give it a try.

With a tight time-frame this year, you could start small and aim to make it more of an event in 2025.

SPOOKY SAVINGS: Charity shops are the perfect place to put together a spooky Halloween costume on a limited budget.

You may be lucky to snap up a complete second-hand fright night outfit.

If not, use a charity shop find to put together your own look.

Look for a cheap wedding, bridesmaid or evening dress.

Add rips and fake blood stains, then go all out on some scary make-up.

SECOND-TIME SCARIES: Marketplaces like Vinted have grown hugely in recent years and they’re an essential stop for anyone looking for a Halloween costume.

Go to the Fancy Dress & Costumes section to pick up a bargain on a pre-loved outfit.

Little witches and wizards can pick up a scary look for under £5, including postage.

MAKE IT UP: Halloween costumes are two-a-penny, but it is shocking make-up that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Save on your outfit and go to town on your face effects instead.

Get a face paint pallet for under a fiver from a supermarket or Superdrug and use it to terrifying effect.

YouTube is packed with Halloween make-up tutorials to get you started.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

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LISTEN up – you can get JVC Deep Bass Bluetooth headphones for £20 at B&M, down from £40.

SAVE: £20

Cheap treat

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TUCK into four Greggs frozen products from Iceland for £10, including a pack of four sausage rolls, £3.

SAVE: £2

What’s new?

ALDI wants to find Britain’s scariest Halloween house – and the prize is £1,000 of Aldi vouchers.

Send a snap of your decorated house – from this year or last – to aldiscariesthouse@clarioncomms.co.uk by Tuesday.

Top swap

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WAKE up with a glow thanks to the Elemis Peptide4 Plumping Pillow Facial, £59, at uk.elemis.com, or look lively with Lacura Overnight Plumping Face Mask from Aldi, £5.99.

SAVE: £53.01

Little helper

KIDS can enjoy a free meal with the purchase of an adult main course at Frankie & Benny’s this half-term.

The offer runs from tomorrow until Friday, November 1.

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Shop & save

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BE Halloween-ready, with three pumpkins for the price of two at Hobbycraft.

They come in different colours and sizes, from £1 to £20.

SAVE: Up to £20

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

A BUDGET airline has announced a route between Britain and a major European city.

Transavia – a subsidiary of Air France KLM – is launching a service from London Stansted to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

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The route will be launched on April 3 next year, with around four flights a week, Business Traveller reports.

These will be on Sunday and Monday lunchtimes, and Thursday and Friday evenings, it is understood.

Rotterdam serves as a trendy destination for culture vultures — crammed full of art and world-class grub.

Demolished by the Nazis in World War Two, Rotterdam has been revitalised in recent years.

The lesser-known Dutch city is crammed full of art and world-class grub, making it an ideal city-break destination.

The Cube Houses are some of the city’s most standout pieces of architecture.

Rotterdam is also home to the world’s first Floating Farm.

Located in the harbour, the first floating dairy farm in the world produces fresh products from 40 cows who live there.

Make sure to grab a bite to eat at one of the outdoor bars overlooking the Maas River.

Grab some traditional Dutch bitterballen with your drink — these deep-fried croquettes, made from stewed meat and served with mustard, are the perfect bar snack.

Head to the futuristic-looking Markthal for yet more food.

The giant food hall is packed with vendors selling grub from around the world as well as traditional local fare.

The news comes after The Sun reported last month that a new theme park is set to open in Rotterdam next spring.

Attractiepark Rotterdam is slated to open in March 2025, according to its owner Hennie van der Most.

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HEARTBROKEN punters have lamented a town’s bar as the “best place to boogie” after it announced it is closing down “forever”.

Revolution Bath is shutting next month the venue announced on Facebook amid a string of closures for troubled owners Revolution Bars Group.

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In a post it said: “Our team is absolutely heartbroken and we want to thank you so much for partying with us!

“We would love for you to visit us again before we close and you can up until the 2nd of November!

“If you have a booking after the 2nd November a member of our team will be in contact ASAP. Love team Revs Bath.”

The bar is set to host Halloween Till Revs Do Us Par Revolution Finalè Closing Halloween Party.

The event runs until 3am.

Writing in the comments, one person said “best club in Bath” and another added “end of an era”.

A third person said: “Only place I liked to end up in! Very happy memories of going in there for one drink after work then ending up out all night!”

One reveller admitted the bar has a very special place in his heart for an important reason.

He said: “Met my amazing wife here and nearly 15 years later still going strong.”

STRUGGLING

The company’s plans to close 25 locations across the UK is part of a restructuring plan granted approval in the High Court.

It will mean the popular chain can avoid insolvency after struggling since the pandemic.

After the overhaul is completed, the company said it will operate 65 venues.

This will consist of 27 Revolution Bars, 15 Revolucion de Cuba bars, 22 Peach Pubs and one Founders & Co site.

A full list of locations affected have not yet been revealed, but it will affect loss-making bars.

The company has fallen on hard times in recent years, as the cost of living crisis and young Brits drinking less has damaged sales.

The boozer needed the court to sanction its overhaul which it hopes will restore its finances after a difficult few years following the pandemic.

It is hoped that the High Court ruling will draw a line under a difficult few months for the business.

Commenting in August, executive Rob Pitcher said: “The group is now well diversified across the key brands, providing a more secure financial base and we look forward to the future with improved optimism.

“We know this has been a very difficult period for all of our teams both in our sites and in our support office and I’d like to thank them for their support and resilience.”

This is not the first time the brand has shuttered pubs.

In 2020, the bar chain announced plans to shutter six sites as it struggled to keep afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

More recently in July, Revolution Bars Group revealed to The Sun it would shutter 11 locations on August 11 as part of a major overhaul.

A WINNING Postcode Lottery player didn’t even know he had entered the competition before a £200,000 cheque knocked at his door.

Alison and Tim Browne, from Breaston, Derbyshire, were gobsmacked when they discovered the lucrative jackpot.

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The couple were one of three households who scooped the windfall in the Postcode Lottery Millionaire Street draw today.

But, Tim admitted he wasn’t even aware wife Alison have even entered the competition.

He said: “I can’t believe it. I’m just glad she didn’t phone to tell me the amount when I was driving!

“I didn’t even know she was doing People’s Postcode Lottery, to be honest.”

An overjoyed Alison added: “It’s a fantastic feeling and I can’t stop smiling. But we’re going to have a big, big party on the street.

“It’s wonderful. We’ve known George and Paul for over 30 years and we get on really, really well.

“It’s a lovely street, lovely neighbours, and a lovely place to live.

“I don’t know what to think. This is life-changing, it really is.”

The pair are plan to splurge the cash on a lavish holiday to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

And, they will finally be able to tick riding on the iconic Orient Express off their bucket-list.

Tim said: “It means everything. We always wanted to do the train trip across the Rockies in Canada and also the Orient Express.

“There’s lots of trips that we’ve never done and have never been able to do. And now we’ll be able to do them and that’s fantastic.”

Alison, a freelance school music exam coordinator, said: “We’ve been married 43 years now, but our 40-year anniversary fell during lockdown so we weren’t able to celebrate properly. Now we can do that.”

The mum-of-two said their jackpot has seen her drop half a stone within a week due to lack of sleep.

“But it’s good! You have dreams that you have won lots of money, but then you wake up and think, ‘Damn, it’s a dream’,” she added.

“This is how I felt every night this week when I managed to get to sleep at 3am. Then I woke up and thought, ‘No, it’s not a dream!’

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would win this much.”

The couple share a son Matthew, who is autistic, and hailed the win for “the security this will bring him”.

Meanwhile, older son James, joked: “I’ll be happy with a pint in Spoons. It’s £6 a pint!”

Tim revealed he also dreams of welcoming a new puppy into the family to keep Pointer Finlay company.

The musician told how a new Gore-Tex waterproof jacket wouldn’t go a miss either.

Alison laughed: “If we get another dog we’ll need a house with a bigger garden.

“My son and daughter-in-law don’t want us to get another dog because they have to look after them if we go away.

“We’re all going away to Wales on holiday together next week so we can celebrate there.”

How to play the People’s Postcode Lottery?

For just £12 a month, players can sign up through the official website to have a chance of winning millions of pounds.

Once signed up, players are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of each month.

Tickets play for the Daily Prize, worth £1000 and revealed every single day.

Tickets could also win a jackpot of £30,000 for Saturday and Sunday’s Street Prize draws.

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People’s Postcode Lottery also offers a £3million Postcode Millions draw each month – where your ticket plays for a share of the cash prize fund.

Winners are notified by email, text, post, or phone call, depending on the prize they win.

Jackpot winners are visited by the lottery team in person.

It comes as another lucky player who scooped a life-changing Postcode Lottery prize refused to believe she had won – until a key sign revealed it was fate.

Meanwhile, another punter doubled their £200,000 Postcode Lottery win by using a clever trick – make sure you don’t miss out.

Jo Deighton from Shoreham, West Sussex, was gobsmacked when she scooped nearly an eye-watering quarter of a million pounds.

Elsewhere, one Brit who bagged a £410,000 jackpot told how no one believed her – not even her husband.

Leyla Eaton’s jaw dropped after discovering she’d scooped the eye-watering prize.

The mum-of-two entered when she was struck by a “strong feeling” a huge windfall was coming her way.

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