Home / Arts and Entertainment / 228-Year-Old London Eatery Becomes Charity's Legacy
228-Year-Old London Eatery Becomes Charity's Legacy
15 Oct
Summary
- London's oldest restaurant, Rules, was donated to a conservation charity.
- The 228-year-old building and its contents are now protected.
- The donation ensures the restaurant's continued operation and legacy.
London's historic Rules restaurant, established 228 years ago, has been gifted to Europe's largest conservation charity. The 228-year-old building, along with its visitor books, menus, and photographs, is now protected for centuries to come. The donation ensures the restaurant, which has hosted royalty and celebrities, cannot be sold.
The current owner, Jean Pierre Mayhew, gifted the £11 million building to the Trust after more than four decades of ownership. Rules will continue to operate under existing management, with the annual rent from the business funding conservation work. This move secures the restaurant's future, which has survived threats of demolition in the past.
Rules first opened by Thomas Rule, and across its history, it has only been owned by four families. It famously served oysters, and its menu has evolved to include dishes like steak and kidney pie. During World War II, it remained open, serving rationed meals and delicacies.
The restaurant's eccentric 'green room' has hosted legendary actors, and it even created a special cocktail in honour of Prince William and Kate's marriage. Its preservation is seen as a vital act to protect a unique piece of London's cultural heritage.
