In what might be the biggest shock to the new freedoms we may legally enjoy under lockdown alert level 4, Cape Town’s number one pizza, Butler’s Pizza, did NOT open on May 1. Nor May 2. And how’s this – they’re STILL not open.

The letters W, T and F come to mind.

Butler’s is nothing short of a Cape Town obsession and, with rumours abound that Butler’s had historical record high sales for the last two days before lockdown, you’d think they would re-open the moment level 4 arrived. No, sir!

Whilst many operations have reopened, and are trying to get back to business as usual, Butler’s Pizza founder Rob Wilkinson believes this is anything but usual.

Butler’s Pizza​ is busy enrolling its senior management​ staff in up-to-the-minute new training modules designed to optimise the running of a kitchen during a pandemic, while still maintaining the necessary social distancing. This reskilling programme will be conducted virtually by the renowned Silwood School of Cookery.

The new training venture with Silwood – which has been dubbed the “Silwood Butlerversity” – extends the ongoing collaboration between the venerated cooking institute and the much-loved pizza brand. The secret tomato sauce that seasons the Butler’s base, for instance, was developed in the Silwood kitchens.

We’re taking this approach,” explains Wilkinson, “because we’re putting people first – ​our staff and our customers.​ We will operate to the highest industry standards in order to ensure that our kitchens and our team of Butlers in no way contribute to the spread of the virus. The last thing we want to see is the Western Cape being plunged back into Level 5 lockdown after the enormous sacrifices that have been made already, by so many. We want to give our customers absolute peace of mind that when they order a pizza from us, they are getting the very best product produced with the very best protocols in place.”

That’s a pretty noble endeavour, but what exactly is being done? Wilkinson again:

We have taken the unpopular decision to hold back on the delivery of pizza until the highest level of health and safety standards can be implemented. This means fully re-modelling the kitchens and partnering with Silwood Kitchen to fine tune all safety systems. We make, bake and deliver 365 days a year, and the last ​day​ ​we were closed​ was on 1 January 2000, for Y2K. Butler’s Pizza has now been in shutdown for five weeks! We will reopen for our next uninterrupted 20-year pizza making cycle as soon as – and not before – we are completely safe and ready to do so.

We’re monitoring closely and will be sure to let you know when things are up and running.

That first Rotherham pizza, after such a long wait, will be well worth it!

Maybe some of those neighbourhood bootleggers could get their hands on the secret Butler’s Pizza tomato base sauce in the meantime?