Swinton Buffet
Quick info
About Swinton Buffet
Swinton Buffet is a Chinese restaurant and bar on Bolton Rd in Manchester, set inside a converted old pub with its original tables and service stations still in place. The format is all-you-can-eat, with chicken-based dishes making up a large share of the spread and desserts included as part of the selection. Drinks come from the bar, with Euca Hill Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Shiraz and Shiraz Rosé alongside Cobra and Stella Artois. A front desk handles seating and payment. The entrance is step-free for wheelchair users, and high chairs are available for families with young children. Reservations are recommended, though the room also serves diners who arrive without one. It opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes on Mondays. Takeaway and delivery are both offered for those eating off site.
Menu & Prices
10 dishes · mains £2–3- Euca Hill Chardonnay£3.40
- Euca Hill Shiraz£3.40
- Euca Hill Shiraz Rosé£3.40
- Euca Hill Pinot Grigio£3.40
- Cobra£2.40
- Stella Artois (4%)£2.20
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention empty buffet trays, all-you-can-eat pricing, dated dirty interior and chicken-heavy dishes.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention empty buffet trays, all-you-can-eat pricing, dated dirty interior and chicken-heavy dishes.
Customer Review Summary
Value for money is the recurring draw at Swinton Buffet, with reviewers repeatedly citing low prices, including one who paid £8.90 for all you can eat, as the main reason to return despite mixed food quality. Several single out the crispy chilli beef, sweet and sour chicken, and duck pancakes as standouts, and more than one mentions the desserts favorably. Close behind the praise sits a consistent complaint about empty or slow-refilled trays, with multiple diners describing pans sitting empty and long waits before food was topped up, and a few note the buffet selection felt thin, around 15 dishes by one count, with dry or bland results like salt and pepper dishes that "didn't taste of salt and pepper." The dated, old-pub interior comes up repeatedly, with mentions of dirty walls, damaged blinds, and food left on the floor. Staff feedback is split: several call servers friendly and attentive, while others describe a manager shouting at staff in front of customers. One reviewer separately describes a medical emergency during their visit and says no staff present were able to assist. One visit noted the buffet closing for a week of redecoration.
Customer Review Summary
Value for money is the recurring draw at Swinton Buffet, with reviewers repeatedly citing low prices, including one who paid £8.90 for all you can eat, as the main reason to return despite mixed food quality. Several single out the crispy chilli beef, sweet and sour chicken, and duck pancakes as standouts, and more than one mentions the desserts favorably. Close behind the praise sits a consistent complaint about empty or slow-refilled trays, with multiple diners describing pans sitting empty and long waits before food was topped up, and a few note the buffet selection felt thin, around 15 dishes by one count, with dry or bland results like salt and pepper dishes that "didn't taste of salt and pepper." The dated, old-pub interior comes up repeatedly, with mentions of dirty walls, damaged blinds, and food left on the floor. Staff feedback is split: several call servers friendly and attentive, while others describe a manager shouting at staff in front of customers. One reviewer separately describes a medical emergency during their visit and says no staff present were able to assist. One visit noted the buffet closing for a week of redecoration.
Featured reviews
- Luke Roscoe
“Walked in the Chinese Buffett in a big a group ordered drinks at the bar and the bar staff couldn’t pour a pint correctly, they need more training on the bar and the atmosphere is very dull and the food was okay, I won’t be eating here again”
- Jenny Tucu
“Feels a bit like a canteen but the food is fantastic. Good service from friendly staff”
- Aaron Triplett
“A lovely place to eat, food is beautifully cooked and always plenty of options. We've always had space to get in and definitely get our fill. …”
- kimberley nolan
“Was really nice under £70 for 7 of us will definitely be going again”
- S Lam
“Best buffet experience ever! The lady at the front desk was so kind. Ridiculously good price, they should increase it, go here whilst it's low. She told us to tell her if any dish was running out, and the staff kept our tables clean of old plates. 10/10 - honestly, stop reading and go there now!”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Traditional Chinese eatery and bar, with low-cost all-you-can-eat menus and takeaway option.”
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Has bar on site
- Has toilet
- Always offers all that you can eat
- Serves beer
Show more amenities
- Serves coffee
- Quick bite
- Serves spirits
- Serves great dessert
- Facilities· 4
- Serves alcohol
- Serves cocktails
- Serves small plates
- Serves wine
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
Chinese Restaurants near Swinton Buffet
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swinton Buffet | 3.71,144 | — | empty buffet trays, all-you-can-eat pricing, dated dirty interior |
| New wok | 4.1114 | 0.1 mi | not proper chippy chips, tom yum soup, salt and pepper chicken |
| Slow Boat | 3.7267 | 2.4 mi | salt and pepper chicken, salt and pepper chips, rude phone manner |
| Wok Inn | 4.167 | 3.4 mi | salt n pepper tofu, salt & pepper chicken wings, chow mein |
The 3 nearest chinese restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Chinese Restaurants nearby
More to explore in Manchester
20 places
Chinese restaurants in Manchester
Photo: Hakka Radcliffe · 4.5 · 169 Google reviews
See all 20 chinese restaurants in Manchester
4.5 · Etci Mehmet - Turkish Steak HouseRestaurants
113 places
4.8 · Starbucks CoffeeCafes
48 places
4.6 · Northern Monk Refectory MCRBars
35 places
4.6 · Zara Hair & BeautyBeauty
26 places