As trends change, nightclubs in Stellenbosch are fighting to keep the party going. These establishments have grown weary of public perceptions, ageing brands, and have been trying new ways to attract crowds.
On 1 April, Nu’Bar Stellenbosch posted a cryptic message on their social media, stating they were closing down. Djavan Teodosio, the manager and part-owner of Nu’Bar, said that “people were bored, everyone’s seen Nu’Bar how it was. It’s been like that for 14 years, 15 years, the same music, same look and feel.”
On 1 April, Nu’Bar posted cryptic messages alluding to them closing down. The owners used it as an April Fool’s joke, but subsequently announced a relaunch on 17 April. Photo: Supplied/ Djavan Teodosio
Teodosio said they deliberately planned to post the closure announcement on 1 April as an April Fool’s joke to generate enthusiasm for their reopening. “We planned it that we’re going to do this as […] the biggest April Fool’s joke, and it worked,” said Teodosio. The following day, Nu’Bar’s Instagram posted that they were not closing.
On 13 April, Nu’Bar announced it would relaunch on 17 April with a new makeover. The opening was a big success and they “also had some new faces”, he said.
Teodosio said that everywhere you looked in the renovated space, you would see the Nu’Bar logo. “Wherever you take a photo, you’ll always have a different lighting of blue. So, there’s a different undertone of blue throughout the club,” he added.
Victoria-Lynn Seyffert, a Nu’Bar regular, said, from what she has seen, they have not changed much in terms of infrastructure and that “they needed to do something to draw attention to themselves, because people stopped going.” She added that when she saw the closing down post, she was “genuinely sad”, but she was glad that they have not changed much of the layout.
Other clubs and bars have resorted to revising their models of business to fit the needs of the Stellenbosch community. Dane Hong, the owner of Fool’s Gold Social Bar, said that he and his team have always tried to keep things new for their customers.
Hong added that they have never been afraid to make changes to their business model. Hong said that in 2025, he noticed the trend of young people becoming more health-conscious, drinking less and not wanting to be overpowered by loud music.
Fool’s Gold has responded by opening earlier and emphasising their food options, with DJ’s only playing after 22:00, in addition to creating the Social Chess Club and starting the Running Riot Club, a 5km run starting at Fool’s Gold Social Bar, in 2025.
Fool’s Gold Social Bar has introduced events like The Social Chess Club and Running Riot Club to offer an alternative way of entertainment to a more “health-conscious” youth. PHOTOS: Sourced/Fool’s Gold Social Bar
Different from other establishments, Centraal’s shift was not only monetary, but to serve the residents of Stellenbosch.
Ben de Swardt, a part-owner of the establishment, said Centraal has undergone various changes over the years. He added previous owners originally started Centraal as a beer garden. In 2023, when De Swardt took over management at Centraal, he wanted to market it to the wider Stellenbosch community.
Centraal has shifted its marketing towards the Stellenbosch locals, moving away from the student-focused business model. PHOTO: Supplied/Chad-Lee Wenn
“I was trying to move away from the students, […] to a place where the locals feel accepted,” said De Swardt. They have since moved from a student-centred focus to emphasising the importance of the local Stellenbosch community.
He also stated he could see that Stellenbosch locals really loved Centraal. When they moved to Long Street, Cape Town, in September 2024 and closed in Stellenbosch, the residents would stop him and ask him to reopen.
In June 2025, they sold the branch in Cape Town. In the same year, they moved and renovated a space, moving to 134 Bird Street, Stellenbosch. The time they spent renovating and rebranding Centraal, and it was closed for an extended period.
De Swardt said that this space has allowed them to sell food, which has also culminated in more customers during the day.
As clubs look to evolve for the next generation of party people, reactions vary. Taygon Olivier, a Stellenbosch resident, said that Centraal’s rebrand was not necessary because its doors were closed for an extended time. After opening, said Taygon, “it did not have the same vibe”. On the feedback he received, Teodosio said: “every single person that I know that’s a Nu’Bar regular was like, ‘this is what we needed, we’re here to stay.’”