Designed by architects Richard Norman Shaw and J. Francis Doyle, it was built for the Ismay, Imrie and Company shipping company, which later became the White Star Line. After White Star merged with Royal Mail Line, the headquarters remained at Albion House until 1934, at which time the British Government forced the merger of Cunard Line and White Star Line. The building is situated on the corner of The Strand and James Street. The facade is constructed from white Portland stone and red brick. In 1912, when news of the disaster of the Titanic reached the offices, the officials were too afraid to leave the building, and instead read the names of the deceased from the balcony. During the Second World War, the gable was damaged and was later rebuilt in the late 1940s

The design closely follows the architect’s earlier work of 1887, the former New Scotland Yard building in London. In the 1980s, the Offices in Albion House were noted for their exquisite Office desks of fine wood. The entrance to the building at James Street has a fine mosaic of South America set into the floor, also near the James Street entrance inside Albion House was a wooden war memorial listing the members of staff who “Gave their lives for their country” in the 1914-18 War.

The restaurant concept is a twist on the European Colonial style that reflects the tastes of prominent European notaries who traveled the globe bringing back furniture and exotic pieces of fabric from their journeys to show off how far they had traveled. This contemporary collection of materials contributes to an eclectic look that mixes handmade furniture and traditional fabrics of European interiors with lighter, brighter fabrics and furnishings derived from the Caribbean, India, Africa and the Far East.

Light colours and lightweight materials are indicative of a European Colonial style. The interior colour palette is light with whites, tans and light greens. Dark timber and rattan weave are used for both furniture and window treatments. The rattan furniture is mixed with tables with a white marble finish to give the restaurant a fresh and modern look. The floor is reminiscent of Eastern porcelain and golden palm leaves adorn the feature ceiling lights to bring a global look to the interior, while the dominating gold ceiling pays tribute to the wealth of the modern city.

The challenge of merging a collection of styles was to evoke a bygone era of elegance but also to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.