About Rules
Rules is London's oldest restaurant, founded on Maiden Lane by Thomas Rule in 1798 as an oyster house and still serving traditional British food on the same spot more than two centuries later. In that time it has seen the reigns of nine monarchs yet changed hands only three times, and it is owned today by Ricky McMenemy, who has worked at the restaurant for 35 years.
The history is the draw. Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray and H.G. Wells dined here, and the restaurant became an unofficial green room for the stage and screen, hosting Henry Irving, Laurence Olivier, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Just before the First World War a descendant of the founder, Charles Rule, swapped businesses with Tom Bell of the Alhambra in Paris; Bell's daughter sold Rules to John Mayhew in 1984. Through the Second World War it stayed open, serving rationed meals at five shillings alongside rabbit, grouse and pheasant. The walls are covered in drawings, paintings and cartoons from that past.
The oldest restaurant in London for game and oysters
The kitchen specialises in classic game cookery, oysters, pies and puddings, keeping to British tradition rather than fashion and with an eye on affordability. The room seats around 90 and is staffed by a team of 90. Upstairs, the cocktail bar is a dark-wood room where the barmen mix classics the way they used to be made, a Martini stirred never shaken, a Gimlet, a Bloody Mary on a Sunday afternoon, from a list of Rules house cocktails and old bottled liqueurs hunted down for the purpose.
What to expect on a visit
Two private dining rooms, the Graham Greene Room and the Sir John Betjeman Room, take celebrations and business dinners. Rules is open seven days, from noon until 10pm Monday to Thursday and Sunday and until 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday. Smart dress is preferred, with no shorts or sportswear, and children under ten are not admitted after 7pm. Maiden Lane runs between the Strand and the Piazza, a few minutes from Covent Garden and Charing Cross stations. It heads our list of restaurants in Covent Garden, and for a livelier night on the same lane Big Easy runs live bands daily.
Follow Rules
Send an Enquiry
Get in touch with Rules directly.
Reviews
Booked a table for after a funeral with my elderly mother and adult son. It was my first visit despite having worked across the road in the 80s! Unfortunately I accidentally booked for the wrong time and when we arrived our table was no more and there would have been a two hour wait for another. The FOH/maitre d’ could not have been more helpful and charming, and recommended we go upstairs instead for drinks and food from the ‘bar food’ menu (cold starters). I think we actually enjoyed this more than being in the dining room (although my son had been salivating at the roast guinea fowl), as the cocktail bar feels like an orangery/conservatory with wonderful plants, chaises longue, and a very informal yet intimate vibe. The cocktails are fantastic - classy and innovative - and wine is served in 50cl carafe as well as by the bottle, which was perfect for just a glass each. We had the guinea fowl terrine and the Carmarthan ham, both of which were excellent. It was delightful hour of family catch-up, laughter and relaxation, aided by the attentive but discreet staff and the very comfortable surroundings. Will not be my last visit!! Highly recommended. And thank you again for helping me salvage this occasion after I made such a silly mistake 😀
Had a lovely early evening dinner for a birthday celebration. It's been years since we last visited Rules and it's comforting to see that little has changed. Still warming, comforting British classics. Think the clientele are more casual and relaxed than before which I like. £25 for a glass of champagne made my eyes water but apart from that all was well.
If I could've given 6 for atmosphere, this would be it. You can't go wrong at London's oldest restaurant - impeccable service, magnificent and historical surroundings, and food at top quality. We went for the Sunday roast beef and I can't recommend it enough. Full score to the team at Rules. Friendly and professional from start to finish.