London’s oldest restaurant Rules donated to Europe’s biggest conservation charity
The oldest restaurant in London, Rules, has been donated to Europe's largest conservation charity, the National Trust. The building at 34-35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, central London, has been owned by J-P Mayhew for four decades and has survived the British Empire, World War II, and plans for a new road layout that could have demolished it.
Rules, established in 1798 by Thomas Rule as an oyster bar, has hosted high-profile figures such as Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin, David Bowie, and Madonna. The 11 million-pound ($14 million) donation from the previous owner will secure the future of the building, its interior, and the restaurant's atmosphere. The National Trust, which has been protecting important sites since 1895, will use the annual rent from the restaurant's business to fund conservation efforts.
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