Newport has traditionally been home to a wide range of communities particularly drawn here because of its docks and industrial past. It has one of the oldest Afro-Caribbean communities in the United Kingdom. Many of the original community came to Newport as merchant seaman but ended up broadening their endeavours into steel, coal and other workplaces.
The Afro-Caribbean community has enriched Newport introducing a culture of music, food and spontaneity to other inhabitants of the town/city.
1940s–60s: Windrush Migration & Early Settlers
• After the arrival of SS Empire Windrush in 1948, Caribbean migrants—mainly from Jamaica and Barbados—came to Newport seeking work in railways, dockyards, healthcare, and local industry .
• One early settler, Fred “Back‑a‑Yard” Isaacs, came from Jamaica in 1958 and worked on the railways before helping launch Newport’s first Caribbean cultural hotspot, the Silver Sands restaurant and nightclub in Pill .
1970s–80s: Community Hubs & Cultural Life
Eulah and James White opened the Silver Sands restaurant in Pill in the early 1970’s. The place was well known for its food and its reggae music becoming a focal point for the community and for budding musicians such as Joe Strummer. It was frequently targeted by the police. Linford Isaacs tells his story of coming to Newport and his memories of Silver Sands here
Newport’s Caribbean community continued to grow, forming cultural networks and churches, contributing to the city’s social fabric.
2000s–Present: Cultural Revival & Celebration
Since 2022, Newport’s Riverfront Theatre has hosted the annual Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, celebrating Caribbean contributions to UK culture through film, panels, and community events .
Festivals like “Reggae & Riddim” at Tredegar House spotlight Caribbean music, arts, and cuisine, organised by Urban Circle and partners to engage multi-generational audiences .
Efforts to record and preserve Windrush stories in Wales—including oral histories and museum exhibitions—reflect growing recognition of the community’s enduring influence .