Rules restaurant building donated to National Trust in London

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

The building housing London's oldest restaurant, Rules, has been donated to the National Trust conservation charity.

The building housing Rules, London's oldest restaurant established in 1798 as an oyster bar, has been donated to the National Trust. Located at 34-35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, Rules has survived the British Empire, the Blitz and plans for demolition over its 228-year history. The restaurant's menu expanded to traditional British fare and welcomed generations of high-profile figures including Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin, David Bowie and Madonna. King Edward VII reportedly used the venue for private meetings.

J-P Mayhew, who has owned the building for four decades, donated it to the National Trust to protect the restaurant long-term. Mayhew said the Trust would safeguard 'its bricks and mortar, its famous interior and its invisible atmosphere'. The National Trust, a British conservation institution founded in 1895, values the donation at 11 million pounds. The gift includes visitor books, menus, caricatures, photographs, stained glass and signs alongside the building itself.

How it is being reported

• London's oldest restaurant Rules donated to Europe's biggest conservation charityThe building that houses London’s oldest restaurant has been donated to Europe’s biggest conservation charity.Clickorlando · 14 Oct, 14:40
• London's oldest restaurant Rules donated to Europe's biggest conservation charityThe building that houses London’s oldest restaurant has been donated to Europe’s biggest conservation charity.News4Jax · 14 Oct, 14:40

In this story: Rules · National Trust · London · J-P Mayhew · Thomas Rule · Covent Garden

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