A CARMARTHEN Italian restaurant has been named by HM Revenue and Customs after deliberately underpaying more than a quarter of a million pounds in tax — with the company now in liquidation.

Claudio Cernat Ltd, formerly trading as Florentino’s on Jacksons Lane, appears on HMRC’s latest list of deliberate tax defaulters published on Wednesday (Mar 26).

The company failed to pay £278,561.67 in tax between April 2016 and March 2020. A further penalty of £185,977.52 was imposed.

Records held by Companies House show the firm is now in liquidation, having been incorporated in March 2015.

Largest west Wales case

The Carmarthen case is the most significant to emerge in West Wales from the latest HMRC “name and shame” list, both in terms of tax owed and penalties issued.

It stands in contrast to other Welsh entries, which are largely made up of smaller businesses and individual tradespeople owing tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands.

Who is running the restaurant?

Despite the liquidation of Claudio Cernat Ltd, Florentino’s restaurant in Carmarthen appears to still be operating, with bookings being taken through its website.

However, the website does not identify the company or individual currently running the business. Unless a sole trader, it is a legal requirement to have Limited company name on a business website.

The Herald contacted the restaurant by telephone on Thursday (Mar 26) to ask who currently operates the premises.

A female member of staff answered the phone as “Florentino’s” but declined to provide the name of the business employing her.

The call was then passed to a man who said the restaurant was under “new management” and “nothing to do with the old company”.

When asked to identify the business now operating Florentino’s, the man declined to give a company name or confirm the identity of the owners.

He gave his name only as “John” and said he would ask the new management to return the call “when they come in”.

Director linked to new company

Records show that Claudiu Florentin Cernat, a director associated with the former Carmarthen company, is now listed as a director of a separate business, Maximus Italian Ltd.

The Swansea-based company was incorporated in February 2025 and operates in the same sector — licensed restaurants.

There is no suggestion that the new company is involved in any wrongdoing.

Swansea cases also named

The list also includes three cases from the Swansea area.

Koyuncu Ltd, formerly trading as Pepino’s Pizza in Gorseinon, failed to pay £46,975 in tax, with a penalty of £28,185.

Lee Andrew Dunn, a mechanical fitter from Portmead, underpaid £29,326.20 and was issued a £17,449.06 penalty.

Christopher Lance Whitcombe, an engineer from Fforestfach, underpaid £54,598.69 and received a £46,596.84 penalty.

High street crackdown

Around 140 individuals and businesses across the UK have been named in the latest HMRC publication.

The list includes restaurants, takeaways, convenience stores and vape-related businesses, alongside self-employed trades, highlighting what HMRC says is ongoing non-compliance across high street sectors.

HMRC said all those named had the opportunity to avoid being listed by making a full disclosure during investigations, but failed to do so.

Kevin Hubbard, HMRC’s Director of Individuals and Small Business Compliance, said: “We are actively tackling tax non-compliance among high street businesses across the UK, and today’s namings show we will act wherever we find it.

“Everyone on this list had the opportunity to come forward to make a full disclosure — and didn’t. HMRC will always pursue those who deliberately refuse to pay what they owe.”

No businesses or individuals from Pembrokeshire or Ceredigion appear in the current list.

HMRC only publishes cases where more than £25,000 in tax has been deliberately underpaid. The list relates to civil penalties only, and names remain public for up to 12 months.

Port Talbot secures £64m backing as questions grow over Pembrokeshire’s share of offshore wind boom

MILFORD HAVEN’S role in Wales’ clean energy future is under intense scrutiny after a major government-backed wind project placed Port Talbot firmly at the centre of the Celtic Sea boom.

The UK Government has confirmed up to £64 million in funding to transform Port Talbot into the UK’s first dedicated floating offshore wind hub—unlocking up to 4.5GW of capacity and thousands of jobs.

But as the scale of the investment becomes clear, a critical question is now being asked across Pembrokeshire: what does Milford Haven actually get?

Freeport partnership — but unequal detail

The UK Government has made clear the scale of its backing for Port Talbot, describing it as central to its “clean power mission.” The £64 million grant will fund design and engineering work to develop a specialist floating wind port, expected to unlock at least 4.5GW of projects in the Celtic Sea—enough to power around 6.5 million homes. Officials say the scheme could support up to 5,000 jobs and attract more than £500 million in private investment.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “With its deep waters and strong winds, we are supporting Wales to storm ahead in floating offshore wind – a pioneering industry that will support thousands of good jobs, drive growth across the country and unlock the next generation of clean, homegrown power.”

Both Port Talbot and Milford Haven form part of the Celtic Freeport, a flagship project intended to drive growth across South West Wales.

Yet while Port Talbot has secured clear backing as the main construction and assembly hub, there has been no detailed explanation of Milford Haven’s role.

That lack of clarity is raising concern locally.

Milford Haven is one of the UK’s most strategically important energy ports, handling a significant share of the nation’s gas imports and boasting deep-water access ideal for large-scale offshore operations.

For many, it appeared an obvious candidate to play a central role in floating wind.

WHY THIS MATTERS

• Floating wind in the Celtic Sea could power millions of homes
• More than £500 million in private investment expected
• Up to 5,000 jobs linked to port and supply chain activity
• Wales could attract tens of billions in long-term renewable investment
• Early decisions will determine where those jobs are based

‘Value will go elsewhere’

The announcement has also triggered political criticism over how much economic benefit Wales will actually retain.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have warned that key components for the turbines are likely to be manufactured abroad, with only assembly taking place in Port Talbot.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick said: “Any job creation is a positive step for Port Talbot, but Labour need to be honest about what this actually contains.

“These turbines are set to be built using imported steel and only assembled locally, not manufactured. This means much of the real economic value will still go elsewhere.”

Major projects already linked to Milford Haven

Despite the uncertainty, significant clean energy investment is already being directed into Milford Haven itself.

A £50 million green hydrogen project within the Freeport tax site is set to begin construction this year, producing low-carbon hydrogen using renewable electricity—much of it expected to come from offshore wind.

UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the investment was “crucial in de-carbonising industry, driving investment, boosting our energy security and creating hundreds of jobs in our industrial heartlands.”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens added: “This is a huge milestone… which will create jobs and help grow the Welsh economy.”

Meanwhile, a major 1.5GW floating wind project in the Celtic Sea has already secured an Agreement for Lease, with Welsh Government backing.

Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans said: “These projects will create thousands of skilled jobs and help secure our energy independence for generations to come.”

Labour promises jobs — but few specifics

On Friday (Mar 27), Eluned Morgan is set to visit the Port of Milford Haven, where she will pledge to bring more jobs to West Wales through clean energy investment.

She is expected to say the region has “a wealth of opportunity” in the sector and promise that rural communities will benefit from the transition.

However, no specific commitments have yet been made about what proportion of offshore wind activity will be based in Pembrokeshire.

What could Milford Haven secure?

Industry expectations suggest Milford Haven could play a key role in:

• Servicing and maintenance vessels
• Crew transfer operations
• Storage and logistics for turbine components
• Long-term operations bases for offshore wind farms

The Herald understands that discussions around Milford Haven’s role in operations and maintenance have been ongoing for several years, but no formal allocation of work has yet been confirmed.

In contrast, Port Talbot has already secured early-stage government backing and a clearly defined role in construction and assembly.

Opportunity — but no guarantees

Floating offshore wind development in the Celtic Sea is expected to accelerate later this decade, with the first large-scale projects likely to come online in the early 2030s.

Supporters argue the expansion of offshore wind is key to reducing long-term energy bills and protecting the UK from volatile global fossil fuel markets.

Milford Haven’s location, infrastructure, and experience in handling large-scale energy logistics place it in a strong position.

But without firm agreements, there is no certainty over how much work will ultimately come to the area.

With billions of pounds expected to flow into the Celtic Sea over the next decade, early decisions could shape the economic balance of the region for a generation.

A defining moment for the Haven

For Milford Haven, the stakes could hardly be higher.

The port has long been central to the UK’s fossil fuel economy.

Floating offshore wind represents the next chapter—but whether Pembrokeshire becomes a key player or a supporting act remains unresolved.

As political parties set out competing visions ahead of the next Senedd election, local leaders are now under pressure to secure clear commitments.

The opportunity is real.
The investment is coming.

The only question now is whether Pembrokeshire secures its share—or watches it land elsewhere.

THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON awarded Dr Emma Watts, a Post-doctoral Researcher in Tephrochronology in the Department of Geography at Swansea University, a prestigious medal in recognition of outstanding research.

Dr Watts’ work focuses on reconstructing the eruptive histories of volcanoes using a combination of proximal and distal field data, tephrochronology, geochemistry and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Dr Watts’ research helps scientists better understand past volcanic activity, improve knowledge of how volcanic systems evolve over time, and how plate tectonics influences these volcanic processes.

The President’s Awards recognise early-career geoscientists who demonstrate exceptional promise and are considered to have the potential to become future leaders in their field.

Dr Emma Watts will receive the award at a formal presentation ceremony at Burlington House in London on 17 June 2026 as part of the Society’s annual President’s Day celebrations.

On receiving the Medal, Dr Watts said: “Winning a President’s Award as a volcanologist is something I’m deeply honoured by. Our field relies so much on collaboration, persistence, and a shared fascination with how volcanoes shape the Earth. Being recognised by the Geological Society of London connects my work to a long tradition of scientists who have advanced our understanding of these powerful systems.”

“This award reflects not just my own efforts, but the guidance of mentors, the support of colleagues, and the collective work that goes into every dataset, field campaign, and model. It’s a reminder of why I chose volcanology in the first place and a motivation to keep contributing to the science and community with integrity, curiosity, and enthusiasm.”

The President’s Awards were established in 1980 by Professor Perce Allen and are awarded annually at the discretion of the incumbent President of the Geological Society. Each award is valued at £250.

Founded in 1807, the Geological Society of London is the UK’s national society for geoscience and one of the oldest geological societies in the world. It represents a global community of more than 12,000 Earth scientists, including geologists, geophysicists, and planetary geoscientists.

The Society aims to advance and share knowledge of planet Earth and beyond for the benefit of humanity. It does this by supporting Earth scientists, growing interest in the natural world, and connecting science, the profession and society.