From secret royal romances to Hollywood legends and literary intrigue, Rules restaurant has spent more than two centuries at the heart of London’s social scene. Now, the historic Covent Garden institution is entering a new chapter after its £11 million building was donated to the National Trust, securing its future for generations to come.

Opened in 1798, Rules is recognised as London’s oldest restaurant. Over its 228-year history, it has welcomed monarchs, celebrated writers, actors and musicians, while becoming associated with some of Britain’s most intriguing historical stories.

The donation was made by Jean Pierre Mayhew, 78, who owned the restaurant for more than four decades. Under the arrangement, the building cannot be sold on, while the restaurant itself will continue operating as usual. Existing catering business owner Ricky McMenemy, who has worked at Rules for 35 years, will become a commercial tenant of the Trust.

But beyond its historic interiors and traditional menu, Rules has a colourful past that includes royal mistresses, famous literary affairs and a long-standing connection to the entertainment industry.

King Edward VII’s Secret Meetings With Lillie Langtry

One of the most notorious chapters in Rules’ history involves King Edward VII, who regularly dined at the restaurant with actress Lillie Langtry, one of the women romantically linked to him.

Edward, who reigned from 1901 to 1910, was married to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, with whom he had six children. His marriage did not prevent him from pursuing numerous relationships.

Among the other women associated with the king were Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill, actress Sarah Bernhardt, singer Hortense Schneider and socialite Alice Keppel, the great-grandmother of Queen Camilla.

According to the account of Rules’ history, Edward even arranged for a curtain to be installed at the restaurant to help preserve his privacy when dining with Langtry.

The restaurant’s reputation as a place where discreet encounters could take place extended beyond royal circles. Its association with romantic intrigue also found its way into literature, including Graham Greene’s 1951 novel The End of the Affair.

In the book, narrator Maurice Bendrix reflects on whether falling in love over a meal is possible while dining with his lover, bringing an intimate human drama into a setting already steeped in stories of secret relationships.

From Charles Dickens to David Bowie

Rules has long served as a gathering place for prominent figures in British culture. Its literary patrons have included Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, H. G. Wells, Evelyn Waugh and John le Carré.

The restaurant also became what its website describes as an unofficial “green room” for the entertainment industry, hosting generations of performers and celebrities.

Its famous guests included actors Henry Irving, Laurence Olivier, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Hollywood actress Carol Channing and film stars Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan were also among the names associated with the venue.

Music history has its own place in the restaurant’s story. In 1973, rock star David Bowie accepted an award at Rules recognising the fact that six of his albums were in the charts that year.

Brian Epstein, manager of The Beatles, was another regular diner and moved his management agency, NEMS, to an office nearby in Covent Garden.

More recent celebrity visitors have included former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! winner Joe Swash and Star Trek actor George Takei.

A Familiar Face on Screen

Rules’ distinctive interiors have also made it an appealing setting for film and television productions.

The restaurant appeared in the 2015 James Bond film Spectre and has featured in Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey, bringing its historic atmosphere to modern audiences.

Its combination of traditional panelling, red velvet, brass fittings and portraits has helped preserve the feeling of a place where generations of Londoners have gathered.

The restaurant has also hosted memorable events beyond its usual dining service. In May 1987, fashion figures Lily Johnson and Consuelo Fraser held a champagne-fuelled launch there, attended by the 3rd Lord Glenconner and his son Henry Tennant.

From Oysters to Traditional British Puddings

When Thomas Rule opened the restaurant in 1798, its focus was on oysters. They remain on the menu today, priced at £5.75 each, connecting contemporary diners with the establishment’s earliest days.

The menu also features traditional British dishes, including steak and kidney pie, listed at £26.25, alongside optional chips, mashed potatoes or dauphinoise potatoes for an additional £6.95.

For dessert, diners can order apple and sultana crumble with custard for £11.50, while stilton cheese and biscuits cost £13.95.

The restaurant’s long history has been shaped by just four different owning families across 228 years, spanning the reigns of two queens and eight kings.

During the Second World War, Rules remained open and served rationed meals at five shillings, while also offering game such as rabbit, grouse and pheasant.

The Campaign That Saved Rules From Demolition

The restaurant’s survival has not always been guaranteed. In 1971, Rules faced the threat of demolition as part of redevelopment plans involving nearby Covent Garden and proposals to turn the Strand into a dual carriageway.

A campaign helped protect the historic restaurant, with poet and regular diner Sir John Betjeman among those who spoke out against its destruction.

At a planning meeting, Betjeman argued that a place used by actors, managers and famous people accumulated an atmosphere that could be sensed but never fully captured in a photograph.

His defence of the restaurant reflected a broader argument for preserving places whose significance extends beyond their physical structure.

More than five decades later, the National Trust donation offers another safeguard for the building’s future.

National Trust Donation Secures the Restaurant’s Future

National Trust director general Hilary McGrady praised Mayhew’s generosity, describing Rules as an outstanding example of living history that has survived wars and upheaval while maintaining its traditions.

She highlighted the restaurant’s enduring character, from its historic corners associated with kings and writers to familiar dishes that remain on the menu.

Mayhew acquired Rules in 1984 from the daughter of Tom Bell and has now chosen to place the building in the Trust’s care after more than 40 years of ownership.

The restaurant employs around 90 staff members and can accommodate approximately 90 diners. Its day-to-day operation will continue under the new arrangement, preserving the experience that has drawn guests through its doors since the late 18th century.

With the National Trust now safeguarding its building, Rules’ next chapter will follow centuries of royal encounters, literary inspiration and celebrity visits. Its story is far from over, and the historic restaurant is set to remain part of London’s cultural landscape for generations to come.

Source: Compiled from various sources.