A Covent Garden building home to London's oldest restaurant has been donated to the National Trust.
Rules has operated at 34-35 Maiden Lane since 1798, originally opening as an oyster house. During its 228-year history, it has served famous faces including King Edward VII, Laurence Olivier, William Makepeace Thackeray, Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin, Dame Vera Lynn, Liza Minnelli, Madonna and David Bowie. These days it focuses on hearty British food, specialising in game.
The building and restaurant came under threat in 1971 when the Greater London Council announced plans to turn Strand into a dual carriageway, and was saved thanks to a campaign spearheaded by John Betjeman, who then had a room in the restaurant named in his honour. Its interiors include dark wood panelling, and walls covered in portraits of former patrons, vintage mirrors and busts. It has been used as a filming location for productions including Downton Abbey, and the 2015 James Bond film Spectre.
Now, J-P Mayhew, who has owned the building which houses Rules for 40 years, has donated it to the National Trust, in a gift valued at more than £11m. The building is seen as "a site of exceptional national and international significance" due to it being a "rare example of living heritage where both the historic structure and its original use remain intact".
Mayhew said:
There are few restaurants in the world that have endured the test of time like Rules. With many years of hard work, and some extraordinary strokes of luck, it has survived everything from redevelopment plans and changing tastes to the Blitz.
In addition to the building itself, historic items including menus, photographs, signs and visitor books are also included in the gift to the National Trust, allowing the restaurant's heritage to be preserved.
Rules will continue to operate as usual, and is now a commercial tenant of the National Trust, meaning that the rent it pays will provide income for the heritage charity.
Ricky McMenemy, business owner of Rules, said:
We are delighted the National Trust has taken ownership of 34-35 Maiden Lane, home to Rules Restaurant for over two centuries. As an independent business, it gives us both the security and peace of mind that our home will be in very good hands and be protected and secure going forward. Having already established a very amicable working relationship with the Trust, we look forward to another two centuries in this, our home.
Rules isn't the only building cared for by the National Trust which still operates as a business; The Trust cares for 39 historic pubs, including the George Inn in Borough — though 34-35 Maiden Lane is the first building in the Trust's care to house an historic restaurant still serving customers.
Find out more on the National Trust website.
