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£2.4m boost for UK offshore wind supply chain puts Welsh firms in pole position

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A MAJOR £2.4 million funding package awarded today by the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has handed Wales a golden opportunity to grab a bigger slice of the fast-approaching Celtic Sea floating wind bonanza.

Nine British companies will share the cash, but the headline act for Wales is Slipform Engineering Ltd of Caldicot, Monmouthshire – one of only nine winners across the entire UK. The Welsh specialist in advanced concrete solutions will use its grant to help establish a new Demonstration, R&D and Training facility, building capability that can be directly deployed on the giant floating platforms destined for Welsh waters.

The timing could barely be better. The Crown Estate is preparing to award the first Celtic Sea floating wind leases within months, with the first 4–5 GW of projects expected to start construction from 2028–2030. Pembroke Dock Marine, Port Talbot, Swansea and Mostyn are all battling to become the operations, assembly and servicing hubs for what could eventually be 20 GW or more of floating wind off the Welsh coast.

Several of the other winning projects are laser-focused on the exact technologies the Celtic Sea will need:

  • SeaThor’s “CableSpring” protection system and BPP Cables’ next-generation dynamic power cables – both aimed squarely at the deep-water, wave-swept conditions south of Pembroke Dock.
  • Devon-based HydroSurv and Cornwall-based Airspection will scale up uncrewed survey vessels and shore-launched drone inspections – services that Marine Energy Wales has repeatedly flagged as vital for cost-effective monitoring of far-offshore Celtic Sea arrays from Welsh ports.

Andy Simmonds, Director of SeaThor, said the funding “unlocks significant cost savings for floating offshore wind projects” – savings that will make Welsh waters more attractive to developers.

Lynne McIntosh-Grieve, Head of Programme Delivery at OWGP, praised the “record number of high-quality applications” and stressed the winners will “accelerate near-to-market solutions and build capacity” for the sector.

First Minister Vaughan Gething has made no secret of his ambition to see Welsh firms win at least £1 billion of spending from every 4 GW of Celtic Sea wind deployed. Today’s announcement is a concrete step toward that target.

Cllr Di Clements, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Pembrokeshire County Council, welcomed the news: “This is exactly the kind of high-value innovation we want to see based in and serving Pembroke Dock Marine. Every pound invested in these UK companies now is a pound that can flow straight to Welsh jobs and supply chain in the next five years.”

With Celtic Freeport status already secured for Milford Haven and Port Talbot, and the Pembroke Dock Marine site expanding rapidly, Wales is increasingly well-placed to turn today’s R&D funding into tomorrow’s manufacturing and servicing contracts.

As one industry source put it tonight: “If you want to know where the smart money is going for floating wind in Britain, follow the OWGP cheque book – and right now it’s pointing straight at Wales.”

Business

Blas brings Pembrokeshire flavours to Cardiff with ‘Blas in the City’ at The Parkgate Hotel

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BLAS RESTAURANT, the three AA rosette dining destination known for its modern Welsh cooking and deep connection to Pembrokeshire’s land and coast, is heading to the capital for a special three-day pop-up: Blas in the City, taking place from Thursday 26 February to Saturday 28 February 2026 at The Sorting Room in Cardiff’s landmark Parkgate Hotel.

For a limited time only, Cardiff diners are invited to experience the flavours, creativity and storytelling that define Blas — without leaving the city. Working alongside The Parkgate Hotel’s kitchen team, Blas Head Chefs Dan Slipakiv and Gareth Evans will present a bespoke menu showcasing the best of seasonal Welsh produce, with refined, flavour-led dishes inspired by Wales’s rich natural larder.

“Blas in the City is an exciting opportunity for us to share what we do with a new audience,” said Blas Head Chef Gareth Evans. “We’re proud of our Pembrokeshire roots, and this collaboration allows us to bring the spirit, flavours and creativity of Blas to Cardiff.”

Hosted in The Sorting Room — a Michelin Guide-listed, two AA rosette restaurant — the pop-up combines Blas’s bold contemporary style with the elegance of one of Cardiff’s most celebrated dining rooms.

Event details

Dates: 26–28 February 2026

Lunch: 12:30pm – 3:45pm

Dinner: 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Location: The Sorting Room, The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff

Dress code: Smart casual

Guests can book for lunch or dinner across all three days, with exclusive menus available throughout the event.

Blas in the City reflects the restaurant’s ongoing commitment to championing Welsh food, seasonal cooking and meaningful collaborations — offering guests the chance to enjoy something genuinely memorable.

Bookings are now open and availability is limited.
https://www.theparkgatehotel.wales/home/restaurant-bar/blas-in-the-city/

About Blas Restaurant

Blas is a three AA rosette contemporary Welsh restaurant rooted in Pembrokeshire, celebrating outstanding local produce, bold flavours and a strong sense of place. The name “Blas”, meaning “taste” in Welsh, reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of thoughtful, ingredient-led cooking inspired by land and sea.

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Business

Wind turbine blade convoy rolls through Pembroke Dock to Waterston

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Police escort guides huge component to Dragon LNG site as renewable upgrade continues

PEMBROKESHIRE residents were treated to an unusual sight on Monday (Jan 19) as a massive wind turbine blade was transported through Pembroke Dock under police escort.

The blade — stretching the length of a passenger aircraft wing — was carried on a specialist extendable trailer and moved slowly through the town before continuing towards the Dragon LNG site.

Footage shared online by Hidden Pembrokeshire – Gareth Davies Photography showed officers stopping traffic at junctions and roundabouts to allow the abnormal load to pass safely, with spotters walking alongside to guide the driver through tight bends and narrow sections of road.

Onlookers said the scale of the blade was striking up close, and many stopped to film the carefully managed convoy as it made its way along the route.

The delivery is part of ongoing works linked to new wind turbines being installed next to the Dragon LNG terminal, aimed at generating cleaner electricity for the site and helping to cut emissions in Pembrokeshire.

Further movements of turbine components are expected as the project continues.

Convoy leaving the Cleddau Bridge (Pic: Pete Sharp/Herald)

Video: Gareth Davies/Hidden Pembrokeshire

Cover Photo: Martin Cavaney/Herald

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Business

Loungers to open in Tenby’s South Beach this March

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UK-WIDE hospitality company Loungers plc is planning to open a new beachfront venue in Tenby, with the promise of 30 jobs created, in just over two months’ time.

The West Country-based café/bar group gearing up to open Lansio Lounge at Tenby’s South Beach on Wednesday March 25.

Loungers, founded in 2002, runs family-friendly Lounge café bars across the UK – including the Cofio Lounge at the Guildhall, Carmarthen, and the Waldo Lounge at Haverfordwest’s Riverside.

The Loungers build and design team will transform the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant on Water’s Edge, South Beach in their unmistakable and unique style, Loungers has said.

Loungers added: “A real home from home, Lansio Lounge will cater for all tastes throughout the day with a varied and innovative all-day menu.  Particular attention will be paid to families with a selection of games, books, colouring pencils, and pads on offer.  A full menu, high chairs and baby-changing facilities are also available for Little Loungers.

“With community and neighbourhood at its heart, Lansio Lounge will welcome locals looking for a space for regular catch ups, meetings and events – everything from business networking, book or knitting clubs to parent and baby meets and life drawing classes.”

Ellie Gould, regional community manager, The Lounges, says: “We can’t wait to open the doors of Lansio Lounge in March.  We hope our family friendly environment and top-notch food and drink offering will prove popular with local residents and visitors.

“We’re passionate about integrating genuinely into the communities we serve so we’re looking forward to meeting everyone and to playing our part at the heart of Tenby’s food and drink scene.  Anyone looking for a space to host events or groups should pop in once we are open, we’d love to hear from them and see what we can do to help.”

Late last week, the Loungers plans for the former Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant were revealled following an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for Loungers signage at Salty’s, which recently closed.

Tenby Town Council is recommending approval for the signage, but the park’s buildings conservation officer Rob Scourfield is recommending refusal for the proposals, in the town’s conservation area, mainly on the grounds illuminated signage is not generally allowed there.

The signage application will be considered at a later date.

Family-run venue Salty’s Beach Bar and Restaurant announced its closure on social media, confirming that Sunday, January 4 was its final day of trading.

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