Lifestyle United Kingdom

Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, donated to National Trust

Historic eatery in capital’s theatreland given to heritage charity after changing hands only three times in 228 years When Thomas Rule served his first…

By The News Engine Desk Based on reporting by The Guardian

14 Oct 2026, 04:31 IST Updated 1 hour ago 1 min read 0 views

Image accompanying the story: Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, donated to National Trust — Image: Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian · via The Guardian

The Guardian reports: Historic eatery in capital’s theatreland given to heritage charity after changing hands only three times in 228 years When Thomas Rule served his first oyster to diners on Maiden Lane in London’s Covent Garden, “mad” George III was on the throne of England, John Adams was US president and William Pitt the Younger had just come up with a wheeze called income tax to pay for the Napoleonic wars.

This lifestyle story centres on the United Kingdom. Names and organisations mentioned in the coverage include National Trust, London’s Covent Garden and London.

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Key details

Location: United Kingdom · Europe
Reported by: The Guardian
First reported: 14 Oct 2026, 04:31 IST
Key names: National Trust, London’s Covent Garden, London, Thomas Rule
Section: Lifestyle
Figure cited: More than two centuries later, Rules, the restaurant Thomas founded in what became the capital’s theatreland, has outlasted nine British monarchs and 45 prime ministers – but has changed hands… (The Guardian)