Popular Nigerian restaurant to launch traditional African buffet

A much-loved Nigerian restaurant is set to launch a brand new African buffet. The all-you-can eat menu at Taste Africana in Leigh will begin on March 1 and take place on the first Saturday of every month.

Costing £22.99 per person, each customer will be able to book a time slot at the venue where they will be treated to a range of traditional dishes including assorted meat in pepper soup, jollof rice, fried rice, pounded yam, fried plantain and jerk chicken.

Taste Africana was opened by couple, Cynthia and Bright Chinule. The pair ventured into the food business after a successful stint as an online takeaway operating from their home in Leigh.

A former maths teacher, Cynthia was the first to suggest going into the food sector when she was on maternity leave and realised she wouldn't be able to go back to work as a teaching assistant and look after their children.

She started Home Food UK, which proved a big hit. With two masters degrees and a career in the NHS, Bright also took the leap to support Cynthia in opening Taste Africana in 2023.

However, disaster struck when the front of their building caved in just weeks after opening at their first premise on Leigh Road.

The business owners eventually managed to find a new building on Market Street, but more heartbreak ensued after the family were at the risk of being kicked out of the country if they didn't raise enough money to pay for new visas.

According to the family, they are in the process of rectifying the issue after launching an appeal for support from the local community.

Taste Africana can be found on 19 Market Street, Leigh, WN7 1DR. More information regarding the buffet can be found here.