ONE of the town’s most famous landmarks is being given a new look, in a bid to secure its future.

The Chinese pagoda, on the banks of Peatmoor Lagoon, opened as a Chinese buffet in September 2010, after standing empty since January 2009.

Owners Li Xin and Jian Zhong, who spent an estimated £200,000 updating the place and renaming it the Oriental Buffet, closed the doors over the festive season, to spruce it up and reopen in February.

The interior has been ripped out and a notice in the window tells customers it will reopen next month.

Partner James Young, 35, said patrons could expect an improved buffet, which is likely to have the same name as before.

He said: “We have taken absolutely everything out; the toilets, the bar, the kitchen, right down to the fridge/freezer.

“Everything is going to be improved. The food will be a much better quality and we have already put advertisements out for new waiters and waitresses, as well as a baker because we want to be able to offer traditional western desserts.

“The restaurant itself is so big that we are creating small dividing walls, because a lot of the customers previously have said to us that it felt a bit like a canteen.

“We are having a bar brought over all the way from China and we will have a traditional Chinese decorated wall as guests come in. There will be an area at the front where people can enjoy a drink and there will be a special area for special occasions, like birthdays.”

James estimates £100,000 is being spent on the renovation, which is due to be unveiled in mid-February.

He said: “We have a big site here, including the car park and the lawn at the back, and it is very open.

“So we need to work with the police, the community and the council to ensure we have the support we need.

“We have had incidents when we have had break-ins and people causing problems on the site.”

The building, formerly known as the Pagoda Palace and the Chinese Experience, had new flooring and lighting put in by the previous owner.

Before that, it was on the market with a guide price of £450,000, after the Chinese consortium which ran it went out of business.

Speculation mounted about its future, with many expecting it to make way for affordable housing.

North Swindon MP Justin Tom-linson said: “It is essential for the night time economy that we have a wide variety of restaurants.

“It is a landmark building and I think all the surrounding local communities very much hope that the building is well utilised.”

For buffet bookings, call 01793 877888 or 07727287960.