National Trust receives London’s oldest restaurant

The building housing Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, has been donated to the National Trust to ensure its long-term preservation. Located at 34-35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, the establishment has operated continuously since 1798.

The £11 million freehold gift includes the historic building and its collection of visitor books, menus, caricatures, photographs, and stained glass. The donation also includes the annual rent from the ongoing restaurant business, which will be used to fund conservation work. The National Trust described the site as a ‘rare example of living heritage’ where the historic structure and its original use as a restaurant remain intact.

Rules has a storied history, having hosted notable figures ranging from Charles Dickens to Madonna. The restaurant previously faced demolition threats in the 1970s due to road-widening schemes, but was saved following an impassioned defense by poet John Betjeman. The building’s interior remains well-preserved, maintaining a tradition of English ‘country house’ cuisine.