Rules Restaurant Menu Prices 2026: London's Oldest Restaurant

Rules is widely cited as London's oldest restaurant, established in 1798 by Thomas Rule at 34-35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden. It has operated continuously on the same site for over 225 years, across the reigns of ten British monarchs, and under the ownership of just four families. While a handful of London pubs and chop-houses pre-date Rules, no other establishment operating today as a restaurant can credibly claim the same unbroken lineage at the same address.

Rules is a mid-to-upper-range London restaurant. Starters range from GBP 5.75 (per oyster) to GBP 23.25 (Dorset Crab). Main courses run GBP 26.25 to GBP 55.00 — pies and poultry sit at the lower end; the showpiece Rib of Beef for Two is GBP 55 per person. Puddings are GBP 11.50 to GBP 14.95. A three-course dinner with a modest wine will typically come to GBP 90-GBP 120 per person before the 12.5 percent discretionary service charge (which goes entirely to staff).

Rules specialises in traditional British cuisine with a focus on classic game cookery, oysters, pies and puddings. Signature dishes include Potted Shrimps, Steak and Kidney Pie, Steak and Kidney Pudding with Oyster, game birds such as Guinea Fowl, and British puddings including Sticky Toffee Pudding and Golden Syrup Sponge. The restaurant sources game from its own Lartington Estate in Teesdale, County Durham, and places a strong emphasis on provenance — Whitstable and Maldon oysters, Cornish cod, Loch Duart salmon and Dorset crab all appear on the a la carte.

Yes. Game cookery is central to Rules' identity — the restaurant owns the Lartington Estate in Teesdale to supply its kitchen. British game seasons run roughly: Grouse — 12 August ('Glorious Twelfth') to 10 December; Partridge — 1 September to 1 February; Pheasant — 1 October to 1 February; Venison (red deer) — stags 1 August to 30 April, hinds 1 November to 28 February. Rules typically features the full spectrum of British game birds and venison in season, with guinea fowl and duck available year-round. The a la carte menu updates seasonally to reflect what is coming off the estate and from British suppliers.

Rules is located at 34-35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7LB. It is a short walk from the Strand, a few minutes from Covent Garden tube station (Piccadilly line) and Charing Cross rail and tube (Northern/Bakerloo). The nearest tube stops are Covent Garden or Charing Cross. Maiden Lane is a quiet pedestrian lane running parallel to the Strand, just north of the Savoy Hotel. The phone number is 020 7836 5314.

Yes. Rules is a popular restaurant in a high-footfall area of central London, and walk-ins are rarely guaranteed a table — especially at dinner and on weekends. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made via the SevenRooms booking system on the official website at rules.co.uk. Private dining rooms (the John Betjeman Room and the Graham Greene Room) can also be booked for events and larger groups.

Rules has a long history of famous guests. Literary patrons include Charles Dickens, Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Thackeray and H.G. Wells. Actors Henry Irving and Laurence Olivier were regulars. The restaurant appears in novels by Graham Greene, Dorothy L. Sayers and Dick Francis. In screen culture, Rules featured in the James Bond film Spectre (2015) and in multiple episodes of Downton Abbey. Head chef Rory Kennedy competed on the Japanese Iron Chef series against Hiroyuki Sakai.

Rules is primarily a meat and seafood restaurant, but vegetarians are accommodated. The a la carte offers several plant-based starters including Cream of Spinach and Nettle Soup, Watercress Salad and Roasted Heritage Beetroot Salad. On the dessert menu, all the puddings are vegetarian. It is worth calling ahead or noting dietary requirements when booking, as the kitchen can adapt dishes on request. The menu is not designed with vegetarians as a primary audience — game and British provenance cooking is the core identity of the restaurant.

Rules has no formal dress code published on its website, but the restaurant's long-standing atmosphere is that of a classic London dining room — dark wood, red walls, framed caricatures and white tablecloths. Smart casual to smart is the broadly observed standard. Very casual attire (athletic wear, ripped jeans) would be conspicuous. The restaurant attracts a mix of tourists, business diners and London regulars, so a collared shirt or equivalent is the safe default. Confirm with the restaurant directly for private dining events.