March 18, 2026 - 223 views
A new heritage trail in Abergele is shining a light on a little-known but deeply influential part of North Wales history — and at its heart is the story of a businessman whose legacy still resonates today.
The trail, created by the Jewish History Association of Wales with support from Bangor University and Abergele Town Council, explores the town’s rich Jewish connections, past and present. It can be followed on foot guiding visitors through stories that have helped shape the community over generations.
One of the central figures is Marcus Gubay, who arrived in Abergele in the 1920s as part of an Iraqi Jewish family.
One of seven children, he became a familiar and much-loved figure in the town, building a successful business empire alongside his brothers.
Gubay ran the popular Gubay’s Parlour café, a 40-seater on the coast road, and was also involved in campsites and holiday rentals — helping to establish Abergele as a welcoming destination for visitors. He is even credited with introducing the jukebox to Wales, adding a touch of modern entertainment to the seaside experience.
His story is also closely linked to one of the biggest retail success stories in British history. His son, Sir Albert Gubay, who was born in nearby Rhyl, went on to found the Kwik Save supermarket chain in 1965. Built on the “pile it high, sell it cheap” model, the business grew to around 1,000 stores across the UK and transformed the way many people shopped.
Beyond retail, Sir Albert Gubay became one of Britain’s most generous philanthropists, donating hundreds of millions of pounds — particularly to charitable and religious causes — later in his life.
The new trail not only celebrates the Gubay family’s contribution but also uncovers a wider, often overlooked history of Jewish life in the area.
Visitors can explore links to Kinmel Park Military Training Ground, where conscientious objectors — including several Jewish men — were held during the First World War. Among them were the brothers of author Lily Tobias, whose experiences inspired her novel Eunice Fleet.
Nearby Kinmel Hall also features on the trail, having provided refuge during the Second World War to Kate Kobrak, who arrived in Britain on the Kindertransport after fleeing Nazi persecution. She later became a teacher at the hall and remained there for decades, while her parents tragically perished in Auschwitz.
Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has welcomed the launch of the trail, describing it as a long-overdue recognition of Abergele’s diverse heritage.
He said the town has a rich Jewish history and praised the efforts to document and celebrate the contribution Jewish residents and visitors have made to local life, from business and education to military service.
Professor Nathan Abrams of Bangor University added that while North Wales may not immediately be seen as a centre of Jewish history, the trail reveals “a myriad of fascinating stories” just beneath the surface.
For North Wales, the trail is more than a history lesson. It is a celebration of how global stories — from Iraq to Eastern Europe — have shaped local communities, businesses and culture.
And in the story of Marcus Gubay, it highlights how one family’s journey to a small seaside town helped leave a lasting mark — not just on Abergele, but across the whole of the UK.
To view the Abergele Heritage Trail visit: https://www.jhasw.com/abergele-heritage-trail
