Debonairs Pizza Celebrates 25 Years and 600th Store Opening

In 1991, two students from Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu Natal, decided to start Debonairs Pizza. Now, 25 years on, the South African franchise is celebrating the opening of its 600^th store, in Botshabelo near Bloemfontein, in the Free State, on 28 November 2016.

With summer upon us, there is no excuse not to have some quality time outdoors, with family and friends, while enjoying a delicious Debonairs Pizza. After all, they invented the Triple-Decker® and the Crammed-Crust®.

But where to go?

I have selected a few gardens in Cape Town and Johannesburg, where one can enjoy the views, soak up the sun (remember to wear your SPF 50) and indulge with a delicious, mouth-watering slice of Debonairs Pizza.

First up, is Cape Town, which is home to the Green Point Urban Park and The Company Gardens.

I recently spent a few days back home in Cape Town. I pretended to be a tourist in my own city and took in the sights and sounds that make Cape Town so unique. One of these sights, is the Green Point Urban Park, just a hop, skip and a jump from the Green Point Stadium. Quaint and educational seem to be the best adjectives for this little Cape Town gem. It is almost a mini version of the Botanical Gardens, in that, there are boards describing what each plant is, and its origins. There are picnic spots in the park that are snapped up fast, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, so best you rise with the sun to secure a spot to enjoy your Debonairs Pizza. Here, one is blessed with spectacular views of Signal Hill, Lion’s Head and the Mouille Point Lighthouse. Talking of blessings, did you know that Debonairs Pizza started “Doughnation”, where excess pizza dough is made into flatbreads to feed many more? Don’t you just love that pun? This “Doughnation” CSI initiative, was launched in 2012, and all fresh left-over dough is baked into pizza breads and donated to local charities supporting disadvantaged communities. Over 30 000 pizza breads are donated monthly and this continues to grow as the brand grows.

Vygies pop in pretty pink at the Green Point Urban Park

Green Point Stadium looks like a space ship in this shot

Green Point Urban Park ends where Mouille Point begins – at the Lighthouse

Water feature that forms part of the Green Point Urban Park

Stunning views of Signal Hill and Lion’s Head

The Company Gardens:

The Company Gardens is one of the oldest gardens in South Africa. It was laid out by Jan van Riebeeck on order of the Dutch-East India Trading Company to secure the provisioning of the colonists with vegetables. (Southafrica-travel.net)

I remember coming here for my first primary school outing. Talking about firsts, did you know that Debonairs were the first to bring you free delivery and online ordering?

Always flush with tourists, the Company Gardens is a thorough fare that gets you from the Mount Nelson Hotel, to the edge of the Cape Town CBD in Wale Street, in about 7 minutes, depending how fast you walk. We stopped to take snaps of the ducks and ducklings, so it took a while longer. While the ducks enjoy their bread crumbs, one can watch them waddling along, all the while enjoying your Debonairs lunch.

Back in my adopted city of Johannesburg, one can find solace in the magical waterfall situated in the heart of the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. And if you find your tummy grumbling, this is the perfect spot to lay down your picnic blanket and indulge in a Debonairs Real Deal Meal.

You can do this on Monday, 28 November 2016, when each Debonairs Pizza restaurant will give away 100 free pizzas in celebration of its 600th restaurant opening in its 25th year. The first 100 patrons at each restaurant, who purchase a Real Deal Pizza, will receive a second promotional Real Deal pizza and a 500ml Coke for free.

Zoo Lake:

Across town, along Jan Smuts Avenue, opposite the Johannesburg Zoo, you will find Zoo Lake. A very popular location for Sunday afternoon lazing about and snoozes, as well as the odd jazz concert, Zoo Lake is known for its self propelled little boats, that one can hire. After all the exercise of rowing and walking, the hunger pangs can be satiated with an ambrosial piece of Debonairs Pizza.

Remember to use #DebonairsPizza600 if you’d like to Tweet or Instagram where you will be enjoying your Debonairs Pizza this summer.

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