Home of London's oldest restaurant Rules donated to National Trust

The Covent Garden home of Rules, London's oldest restaurant, has been given to the National Trust in an £11m freehold gift securing the building's future.

• Mayhew, who bought the restaurant in 1984, donated the building and its historic collection of menus, visitor books and photographs.
• Rules, which opened in 1798, will continue trading as a commercial tenant, with rent payments funding conservation of the building.
• Mayhew said the trust will safeguard the building, its famous interior and its "invisible atmosphere" in a way no one else could.
• National Trust curator Lucy Porten said involvement will be light touch, the menu will not change, and members will receive no preferential access.