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. Founded in 1798, the Covent Garden establishment has a rich history, serving as a discreet meeting place for royalty, a favored haunt for literary figures, and a backdrop for political discussions.

Over its 228-year history, Rules has been a witness to countless conversations and clandestine meetings. King Edward VII famously entertained his mistress, Lillie Langtry, within its walls, with a special curtain installed for their privacy and a hidden door allowing his unseen entry. Langtry's signed portrait still hangs in the restaurant, and an upstairs room is named in honor of the king.

Author Graham Greene also frequented Rules, where he met Catherine Walston, the inspiration for his novel "The End Of The Affair." Their first kiss reportedly occurred on the pavement outside the restaurant, a scene later recreated with a meal of steak and onions, which Greene described as the moment he fell in love.

Throughout the Victorian era, literary giants such as Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, and John Tenniel dined at Rules. Later generations of writers, including H.G. Wells, Evelyn Waugh, John le Carré, and Poet Laureate John Betjeman, were regulars. Betjeman even led a campaign in the 1960s to save the restaurant from demolition.

Film stars like Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and John Wayne, along with actors Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, were drawn to its ambiance and classic dishes. In more recent times, celebrities such as Madonna, David Bowie, and Harrison Ford have been patrons.

The restaurant also played a role in political discourse. In December 1985, then Prince Charles hosted a confidential lunch for parliamentary lobby correspondents at Rules. During the meal, he expressed frustration with media attention on his marriage and questioned his public image, humorously asking if he was expected to "wear a gold lame jockstrap." He also voiced concerns about the Channel Tunnel project, expressing his objection to Britain no longer being an island. He was reportedly advised against calling for a referendum on the matter, which would have put him in direct conflict with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Margaret Thatcher herself was also a patron, with a portrait depicting her as Joan of Arc having a place of honor. The restaurant has hosted fundraisers for the Labour Party, and figures like union leader Bob Crow and former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott were known to dine there. Prescott reportedly stopped visiting after a maître d' mistook him for Tory politician Ken Clarke.

Rules has weathered numerous challenges, including proposed redevelopment of Covent Garden, a critical review in the 1977 Good Food Guide, and a historical report of operating a color bar in 1948. It famously eschewed credit cards when they first appeared in the 1970s.

The National Trust has described Rules as an "outstanding piece of living history where kings dined and writers and politicians plotted." As it enters its next chapter under its fourth owner in 228 years, the restaurant is poised to continue its legacy.