Sir John Betjeman (1906–1984) was an English poet, writer and broadcaster. He served as Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death and was a prominent defender of historic architecture.

In 1971, Betjeman gave an impassioned speech defending Rules restaurant and its “invisible atmosphere” against a proposed expansion of the nearby Strand thoroughfare that would have led to the restaurant’s demolition. Rules later named a room in his honor.