Home of oldest restaurant given to National Trust

The home of London's oldest restaurant, which has hosted famous faces from Charles Dickens to Madonna over the past two centuries, has been given to the National Trust.

Rules originally opened in 1798 at 34-35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden and has outlasted empires, survived the Blitz and fought off development plans.

The £11m freehold gift of the restaurant building along with its historic collection such as visitor books, menus, and photographs will now be protected for future generations, the National Trust said.

Rules restaurant will continue to trade, while becoming a commercial tenant of the charity. Under the deal, the rent payments will go towards conserving the building.

Rules, which has a well-preserved interior, has welcomed generations of high profile figures including Charles Dickens, Charlie Chaplin, David Bowie, Liza Minnelli and Harrison Ford.

King Edward VII used to meet his mistress, actress Lillie Langtry, in a corner on the second floor, where drapes were created to shield them from prying eyes. A secret private door allowed them to disappear through to a room upstairs.

It was also favourite spot for poet John Betjeman, who once gave an impassioned speech in defence of the restaurant when it was under threat of redevelopment.

Writer Graham Greene was known to enjoy birthday meals there and featured it in his novel The End Of The Affair.

The restaurant's proprietor Ricky McMenemy, who has worked there for 35 years, said the reputation for discretion continues.

He said staff put a lot of thought into where they sit certain people, such as rival film directors or opposing political politicians.

McMenemy will become a commercial tenant of the National Trust following the handover.

He welcomed the donation, saying: "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."

The building's owner, J-P Mayhew, said: "There are few restaurants in the world that have endured the test of time like Rules.

"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.

"I am grateful to them for believing in this idea and for protecting this building and two centuries' worth of stories for people to enjoy forever."