Rules (restaurant)
Encyclopedia
Rules is a London
restaurant
on Maiden Lane
in Covent Garden
. Rules was founded in 1798 and is London's oldest restaurant.
Rules was opened by Thomas Rule in 1798, primarily as an oyster bar
but served, and continues to serve, traditional British Cuisine
. Rules specialises in game and has its own estate known as The Lartington Estate in the High Pennines.
The restaurant stayed in the Rule family until the First World War, when Charles Rule swapped businesses with Thomas Bell. Bell's daughter subsequently sold the restaurant to John Mayhew (who still owns the restaurant) in 1984.
Efforts have been made to carefully preserve the original features in the main restaurant and in the cocktail bar. The walls are decorated with a series of sketches, oil paintings and cartoons which have been collected throughout its history. A number of its artworks depict theatrical history. Rules has been frequented by Henry Irving
and Laurence Olivier
amongst others.
The restaurant has featured in novels by Graham Greene
, Dick Francis
and Evelyn Waugh
. Sir John Betjamin complained to The Greater London Council
in 1971 when the restaurant was under threat from demolition.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
on Maiden Lane
Maiden Lane
Maiden Lane may refer to:* Maiden Lane , a street in Covent Garden, London* Maiden Lane , a street in Manhattan* Maiden Lane , a street in San Francisco...
in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. Rules was founded in 1798 and is London's oldest restaurant.
Rules was opened by Thomas Rule in 1798, primarily as an oyster bar
Oyster bar
The term oyster bar describes either an amenity within a restaurant or bar, or a category of restaurant that specializes in serving fresh oysters. The oysters are shucked on site and normally behind a counter, within sight of the customers....
but served, and continues to serve, traditional British Cuisine
British cuisine
English cuisine encompasses the cooking styles, traditions and recipes associated with England. It has distinctive attributes of its own, but also shares much with wider British cuisine, largely due to the importation of ingredients and ideas from places such as North America, China, and India...
. Rules specialises in game and has its own estate known as The Lartington Estate in the High Pennines.
The restaurant stayed in the Rule family until the First World War, when Charles Rule swapped businesses with Thomas Bell. Bell's daughter subsequently sold the restaurant to John Mayhew (who still owns the restaurant) in 1984.
Efforts have been made to carefully preserve the original features in the main restaurant and in the cocktail bar. The walls are decorated with a series of sketches, oil paintings and cartoons which have been collected throughout its history. A number of its artworks depict theatrical history. Rules has been frequented by Henry Irving
Henry Irving
Sir Henry Irving , born John Henry Brodribb, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility for season after season at the Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as...
and Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
amongst others.
The restaurant has featured in novels by Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
, Dick Francis
Dick Francis
Richard Stanley "Dick" Francis CBE was an English jockey and crime writer, many of whose novels centre around horse racing.- Personal life :...
and Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
. Sir John Betjamin complained to The Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
in 1971 when the restaurant was under threat from demolition.