Lifestyle Centre Management has announced that LUPA BALLITO will be under new ownership and
management as of 1 March. Bruce Rencken, co-owner of Lifestyle Centre, and Murray Loder will be
taking the reins and partnering closely with LUPA founders Guy Cluver and Chris Black. Also joining the
management team will be Shorne Ulyatt, a restauranteur with over 15 years’ experience.

The Italian restaurant at Lifestyle Centre will close for two weeks from 1 March. Said Rencken, “We took
the decision to close for a short period to make a few small changes with regards to staff structures, as
well as to undertake staff training and some minor redevelopment and refurbishment. Our aim is to
reopen with a fresh approach that will re-establish LUPA Ballito as Ballito’s favourite neighbourhood
Osteria.”

Rencken, as passionate as always about Lifestyle Centre, The Market and Eat Street, described his vision for Eat Street as being “the heartbeat of Ballito; the first-choice location for Ballito to meet, connect and hang out, with a variety of top-notch dining options in incredibly designed and beautiful spaces. Fundamental to realising that vision is ensuring a great selection of very well run and operated
restaurants.” He said that, when conceptualizing and creating Eat Street, LUPA was an obvious choice. “Our decision was originally made based on our personal experiences at LUPA – it was our favourite
restaurant in Hillcrest where our sons were at school and we absolutely loved the LUPA food. We knew
that LUPA would be the perfect restaurant for Ballito – original, authentic and truly Italian, yet also
simple and laid back where you can enjoy one of Chris’s unique dishes or a delicious pizza or pasta.”

Rencken’s venture into the restaurant business began last year with 45 on Eat Street, which he says has
been very interesting and rewarding. He is excited to work closely with Guy Cluver and Chris Black, who
still run the original LUPA in Hillcrest and who have successfully rolled out twelve LUPA locations
country-wide. “Guy and Chris are excellent operators who we will have the privilege of learning from
during the transition,” he said. “We have known them for many years and together we will ensure that
LUPA customers are going to experience the LUPA which they know and want. We have been part of
Ballito for over 20 years and hopefully understand what Ballito wants, so our aim with LUPA is to
provide another superb dining option. LUPA has a brilliant location on Eat Street where you can enjoy
the vibe and music around the Wishing Well, together with a great menu and a number of different
seating options.”

Intensive staff training and some minor refurbishment will begin in earnest on 1 March and take place in
the two weeks that the restaurant is closed. “We will be re-configuring the bar and its seating for it to
become a great place for a casual pizza, a bowl of pasta, a draft beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail,”
Rencken explained.

Cluver described LUPA as a place where one feels comfortable enjoying an affordable family dinner of
pizza and pasta with a carafe of house wine as well as dining on shellfish, fresh fish & veal with
corporate clients. Black, the chef and culinary expert in the partnership, said, “We offer a top-class
menu – pasta is homemade, pizza is wood fired using only imported Italian flour, we only use organic
free-range chickens and we source the finest veal to add to the authentic Italian experience.”

The restaurant will re-open on Thursday 14 March.