Overview
- The gift was announced Tuesday, October 13, 2026, when owner Jean Pierre (J‑P) Mayhew donated the freehold of 34–35 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden to the National Trust in a transfer reported at about £11 million.
- The donation includes visitor books, menus, photographs, stained glass and signs and hands the building’s future annual rent to the charity to pay for ongoing conservation work.
- Rules will continue trading as an independent restaurant and proprietor Ricky McMenemy will become a commercial tenant of the National Trust, preserving the site’s current use and staff continuity.
- The National Trust calls Rules a ‘rare example of living heritage’ and says this is the first time it will care for a historic restaurant that remains operational, setting a precedent for stewarding working heritage sites.
- Founded in 1798, Rules has survived the Blitz and 1970s redevelopment plans and has hosted figures from Charles Dickens to contemporary celebrities, and the gift aims to secure its fabric, collections and public access for generations.