London's Oldest Restaurant, Rules, Donated to National Trust
The historic establishment, a favored spot for politicians and cultural figures since 1798, will be preserved for future generations.
London's oldest restaurant, Rules, has been gifted to the National Trust to ensure its preservation.
Founded in 1798 by Thomas Rule, the restaurant has a storied history, serving traditional English fare for over two centuries. It has been owned by only four families and has seen eight monarchs and two queens.
Rules has been a venue for notable figures across politics, literature, and entertainment. Among its patrons were King Edward VII and his lover Lillie Langtry, who had a special curtain installed for their privacy. Victorian novelist Charles Dickens, silent-film star Charlie Chaplin, and numerous James Bond actors such as Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan have also dined there. The restaurant itself was featured in the Bond film Spectre.
Cultural figures like Madonna and poets Sir John Betjeman and Graham Greene frequented Rules. Greene even used the restaurant as a setting in his 1951 novel, 'The End Of The Affair.' Writers William Makepeace Thackeray, H.G. Wells, Evelyn Waugh, and John Le Carre are also listed among its patrons.
Politicians, including a late Labour deputy prime minister, have also been regular visitors. Restaurant owner Ricky McMenemy recalled that John Prescott used to dine there until he was mistakenly called Ken Clarke.
The restaurant, located between Covent Garden and The Strand, was threatened with demolition in 1971 as part of a Greater London Council plan to redevelop the area. A campaign led by diner and poet Sir John Betjeman helped to save it from destruction.
The current owner, Jean Pierre Mayhew, 78, who has owned the establishment for 40 years, decided to donate the building, valued at £11 million, to the National Trust. Mayhew cited his desire to safeguard the future of the historic site.
Rules will continue to operate as a restaurant under existing owner of the catering business, Ricky McMenemy, who will become a commercial tenant of the National Trust. Classic dishes, such as oysters which were the restaurant's original focus, will continue to be served. Oysters are currently priced at £5.75 each, while a steak and kidney pie costs £26.25.
Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust, expressed gratitude for Mayhew's donation, calling Rules an "outstanding piece of living history" and acknowledging the care Mayhew has invested in preserving the establishment.