World · Europe · 55 mins ago
London’s oldest restaurant building donated to National Trust
Rules’ historic building in Covent Garden, London, has been donated to the National Trust.
The restaurant was founded by Thomas Rule in 1798 and is widely described as London’s oldest.
Owner J-P Mayhew gave the building and its contents to protect its historic features and collections.
The donation is valued at £11 million, and includes the annual rent from the restaurant for conservation work.
Rules will stay open as a restaurant under proprietor Ricky McMenemy, who becomes a National Trust tenant.
The Trust says it will care for the building while leaving day-to-day operations largely to the business.
The gift is intended to help preserve Rules for future generations.
The building housing Rules, described as London’s oldest restaurant, has been donated to the National Trust.
The gift is valued at £11 million and covers the historic property at 34-35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden.
The restaurant business will continue operating, with proprietor Ricky McMenemy becoming a commercial tenant of the Trust.
The donation also includes historic objects and the building’s annual rent, which will support conservation work.
The Trust says it will protect the building and its contents while keeping the property in restaurant use.
- Who
- Jean Pierre Mayhew donated the building to the National Trust. Rules proprietor Ricky McMenemy will become its commercial tenant.
- What
- The historic building housing Rules was donated, along with items including menus, photographs and signs. The gift also includes annual rent for conservation.
- When
- The donation was reported on October 13 and 14, 2026. Mayhew bought the property in 1984, according to the Guardian.
- Where
- 34-35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, central London.
- Why
- Mayhew said the Trust could protect the building, its interior and its “invisible atmosphere.” The donation is intended to safeguard the restaurant’s future.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Thomas Rule established Rules as an oyster bar on Maiden Lane.
Plans to redevelop the area threatened the restaurant with demolition, but a campaign helped stop them.
JP Mayhew bought Rules, according to the Guardian.
Mayhew sold the restaurant business to longtime general manager Ricky McMenemy, according to the Guardian.
Mayhew donated the building housing Rules to the National Trust.
- Building
- 34-35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, central London
- Valuation
- £11 million
- Restaurant founded
- 1798
- Donor
- Jean Pierre Mayhew
- Restaurant proprietor
- Ricky McMenemy
- Donation includes
- Historic objects and annual rent for conservation work
4 sources
London's oldest restaurant donated to Europe's biggest conservation charity
London's oldest restaurant, Rules, 'where kings dined and politicians and writers plotted', given to National Trust to safeguard future
Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, donated to National Trust
Home of London’s oldest restaurant, Rules, given to National Trust
What people are saying
The Trust will protect this place in a way that no one else could, safeguarding its bricks and mortar, its famous interior and its invisible atmosphere, too.
This place is an outstanding piece of living history, with its corners where kings dined and writers and politicians plotted, and the traditions it kept alive through wars and upheaval.
It will always be run as a restaurant.
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.