Our story · 1807–2026
Wall's began here. Rowley's has cooked here for fifty years.
The early years
A butcher's shop, by Royal Appointment.
In 1790, Richard Wall was apprenticed to a pork butcher in St James's Market. By 1807 he had learned the trade and taken over from his master.
From 1812 to 1901 the business held a long run of Royal Appointments, from King George IV to King Edward VII. Richard's grandsons, Thomas and Frederick, took it on in that time.
Work began at 4am. Frederick lived above the shop with his family and walked the cobbled streets to Smithfield Market to buy meat. Thomas could often be seen in morning coat and silk hat, attending to his duties as a councillor for the Borough of Westminster.
Two hundred years at 113
A short history.
1790
Richard Wall is apprenticed to a pork butcher in St James's Market.
1807
He takes over the business from his master.
1812
The first Royal Appointment. They continue to 1901, from George IV to Edward VII.
1976
Rowley's opens at 113 Jermyn Street. The entrecôte, with our signature Roquefort butter, goes on the menu.
2026
Fifty years on, still run by the same family.
Keeping it in the family
Same family. Same entrecôte.
Rowley's opened in 1976 with the entrecôte and our signature Roquefort butter as the house speciality. Fifty years later it's still what most people order, and the restaurant is still run by the same family. Today that's the Guess family.
“What may very well be the finest steak and chips joint in the land.”The Telegraph
