Famed South African chef Bertus Basson has announced the September 30 closure of the acclaimed Overture in Stellenbosch, after 15 years of operation, due to unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a lease agreement with the new owners of the Hidden Valley Wine Estate.
Hidden Valley was bought by billionaire mining magnate Patrice Motsepe in 2021, for what News24 reports was between an estimated R100 million (US$5.9 million) and R120 million (US$7 million) in cash.
Basson said on his Instagram page that the new owners were not prepared to renew the restaurant’s long-term lease as they wanted to steer the luxury wine estate “in a different direction”.
“We have made every attempt to keep Overture at Hidden Valley but, regrettably, have had no success in negotiating a new lease agreement with the owners of the farm. The new owners would like to steer the property in a different direction which, sadly, does not include Overture. Despite this, we wish them well for the future and hope that they will remain committed to the custodianship of the farm,” said Basson.
Basson opened Overture in 2007 as his first restaurant, and the eatery was named 12th in the Top 20 restaurants in South Africa at the 2019 Eat Out Awards, with Basson named South African Chef of the Year.
“Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine that, from that first service on November 1, 2007 with a tiny kitchen and handful of staff, seven more restaurants would be born, or that some great culinary talents would start their careers in this space,” Basson said.
He concluded by saying that he had exciting plans for the future.
“Every dark cloud has a silver lining, and in this case the silver lining is shining bright. This is therefore not goodbye but see you later. Onwards and upwards!”
