RICHARD KAY: The restaurant so discreet kings could have affairs and Prince Charles could safely exclaim: ‘Do they want me to wear a gold jockstrap?’
Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, has been donated to the National Trust, preserving its historic interiors and collection. Founded in 1798, it has long been associated with private romances and royal visits, as well as writers, actors and other well-known diners.
King Edward VII arranged a discreet entrance and curtain for meetings with Lillie Langtry, whose portrait still hangs at the restaurant. Graham Greene’s affair with Catherine Walston was linked to his novel *The End of the Affair*, while regulars over the years have included Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin and David Bowie. The article also recalls a 1972 dinner attended by Prince Charles and Princess Margaret.
- Rules has been donated to the National Trust.
- The restaurant opened in 1798.
- Its history includes royal guests and famous writers.
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Rules is a restaurant in London’s Covent Garden, founded in 1798 and often described as the capital’s oldest restaurant. It has welcomed writers, actors and other prominent diners, and its rooms and portraits reflect its long history.
Some royal visits became part of its lore: Edward VII reportedly used a private entrance to meet actress Lillie Langtry, whose portrait remains there. The restaurant has also been linked to writer Graham Greene and the relationship that informed his novel The End of the Affair.
Its dining rooms have hosted well-known figures across generations, including Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin and David Bowie. The National Trust’s involvement matters because it is intended to safeguard the restaurant’s historic interiors and collection for the future.