Rules restaurant in Covent Garden gifted to National Trust

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 01:02 · Archive

London's oldest restaurant, Rules in Covent Garden, has been donated to the National Trust in an £11m gift.

Rules, the restaurant at 34-35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, has been donated to the National Trust in an £11 million gift by owner J-P Mayhew. The building has operated as a restaurant since 1798, making it London's oldest. The National Trust said the donation would preserve it as 'living heritage' where both the historic building and its function as a restaurant remain intact.

Over its 225-year history, Rules has welcomed numerous notable diners. Visitors have included Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin, Liza Minnelli, David Bowie, Harrison Ford and Madonna. Edward VII visited to meet his mistresses there. Rooms are named after poet John Betjeman and writer Graham Greene, who featured the restaurant in his novel The End Of The Affair. Betjeman gave an impassioned speech in defence of the restaurant when Maiden Lane faced development threats.

The gift includes not only the freehold but also a collection of visitor books, menus, caricatures, photographs, stained glass and signs. The National Trust described the donation as securing the future of a building where 'kings dined and writers and politicians plotted'. The restaurant has survived the Blitz and earlier plans for a dual carriageway through the area.

How it is being reported

• London’s oldest restaurant given to National Trust to safeguard futureThe charity said the donation would secure the future of a building where ‘kings dined and writers and politicians plotted’Evening Standard · 14 Oct, 00:03
• London’s oldest restaurant Rules donated to National Trust in £11m giftLondon’s oldest restaurant, Rules in Covent Garden, has been gifted to the National Trust in an £11m donation, preserving its 225-year history and heritage.This Is Local London · 14 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Rules · National Trust · Covent Garden · J-P Mayhew · Charles Dickens · Edward VII · Hilary McGrady

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem