A BUILDING which was once a popular Chinese restaurant is up for sale.

The Pagoda Palace in Peatmoor, West Swindon, is on the market with a guide price of £450,000, having been closed since January.

After the Chinese consortium which ran the restaurant went out of business, residents living nearby have seen removal lorries taken furniture away and a skip put in the car park.

The empty building opened as The Chinese Experience in the early 1990s and was thought to be one of the biggest Chinese restaurants in the country.

Speculation is now mounting over how the site will be used.

James Gregory, a partner at commercial property consultant Alder King, based at Little London Court in Old Town, says there are a number of options new owners could explore.

“This building has just come on the market and we haven’t received any offers yet,” he said. “I still think there will be a lot of initial interest and we’ll see how we go from there.

“It’s a nice site of two-and-a-half acres. It could be turned into an office campus with the 140 parking spaces it has or a conference centre or a religious meeting hall.

“It depends on its concept. It’s up to the developers and planners to agree on but the sky’s the limit.

“This sale will be marketed far and wide. It would be great if it went to someone local, but it’s open to all.”

In 2004 the restaurant was taken over by the Tang brothers, Albert and Tony, who immediately gave it a £150,000 refit, recruited a Chinese chef from London and flew in a Dim Sum specialist from Hong Kong.

But just seven months after the facelift a fire ripped through the restaurant, causing serious damage and a lengthy closure.

The Adver reported earlier this year how customers and local businesses were mystified at the sudden closure of the restaurant.

Grant Goodhew, who lives in Plymouth but is originally from Swindon, and partner Wai King, had booked their wedding reception at the restaurant.

But after paying £150 to reserve their booking there seems little chance of retrieving the lost cash.

For inquiries about the Pagoda Palace, call James Gregory on 01793 615477.