London's Oldest Restaurant, Rules, Donated to National Trust

Rules, London's oldest restaurant, has been donated to the National Trust, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The 228-year-old establishment in Covent Garden, known for its historical significance and celebrity clientele, will continue to operate as before.

Founded in 1798 by Thomas Rule, the restaurant has been owned by only four families throughout its history. It has served as a backdrop for notable moments, including hosting King Edward VII and his actress lover Lillie Langtry, who reportedly dined there with a specially installed curtain for privacy. Among the women romantically linked to Edward VII and who may have frequented Rules were Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill, actress Sarah Bernhardt, singer Hortense Schneider, and socialite Alice Keppel, the great-grandmother of Queen Camilla.

Rules has also been an "unofficial green room" for the entertainment industry, attracting a wide array of famous patrons. Novelist Graham Greene featured the restaurant in his 1951 novel "The End Of The Affair." Other literary figures such as Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, H.G. Wells, Evelyn Waugh, and John Le Carré have dined there. In more recent times, the venue has appeared in the television drama "Downton Abbey" and the James Bond film "Spectre." Rock star David Bowie was photographed at Rules in 1973 after accepting an award. The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein was also a frequent diner.

The current owner, Jean Pierre Mayhew, who has owned the restaurant for over four decades, decided to gift the £11 million building to the National Trust. "This place is an outstanding piece of living history, with its corners where kings dined and writers and politicians plotted, and the traditions it kept alive through wars and upheaval," said National Trust director general Hilary McGrady. "Mr. Mayhew's extraordinary generosity, and the care he has poured into Rules over many decades, mean this beloved place has a future measured not in years but generations."

Rules was previously under threat in 1971 when the Greater London Council planned to demolish it as part of a redevelopment project. A campaign involving diners such as poet Sir John Betjeman helped to save the historic building.

The restaurant, known for its historic interiors featuring panelling, red velvet, and brass, continues to serve classic dishes. Oysters, a traditional offering since its opening, are still on the menu, alongside steak and kidney pie and various desserts. The cocktail "Royal 29," introduced to commemorate the 2011 marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, is also a feature.

Ricky McMenemy, the current owner of the catering business, will become a commercial tenant of the National Trust. The restaurant employs 90 staff members and can accommodate 90 diners.