National Trust takes ownership of historic Covent Garden restaurant Rules
Rules, widely regarded as London’s oldest restaurant, has been donated to the National Trust to safeguard its future. The Covent Garden restaurant, which has served traditional English food since 1798, will continue operating as before, with its catering business run by existing owner Ricky McMenemy.
The £11 million building was given by Jean Pierre Mayhew, who owned it for 40 years. Rules has passed through just four family owners and counts Charles Dickens, Edward VII, Madonna and James Bond actors among its famous diners; its menu still includes oysters at £5.75 each and steak and kidney pie at £26.25. The restaurant was also saved from a proposed 1971 redevelopment after a campaign involving poet and regular diner John Betjeman.
- Rules has been donated to the National Trust.
- The £11 million restaurant dates back to 1798.
- It will continue operating under its existing catering business.
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Rules is a restaurant in Covent Garden, central London, that has served traditional English food since 1798. It is widely regarded as London’s oldest restaurant and has had only four family owners.
The National Trust is a charity that looks after historic buildings and places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Donating the building gives it a long-term guardian, while the restaurant itself is set to carry on under its existing operator.
Rules has survived earlier threats, including a proposed redevelopment in 1971 that was opposed by a campaign involving poet John Betjeman. Its history and continued use as a restaurant make the building part of London’s social and architectural heritage.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “London’s oldest restaurant, Rules, ‘where kings dined and politicians and writers plotted’, given to National Trust to safeguard future”.