The building was originally built in 1857 as a coffee factory (kopi kale) before being converted to a hotel.

[2] In 1998 it was designated as a 'Conserved Building' by the UNESCO as part of the listing of Kandy as a World Heritage City.

[5] The Victorian-style building, features three white stone arches on the ground floor, with an open verandah and cast iron balustrades on the first floor, supported by four stone doric columns, and a half round tile roof.

[8][9] In July 2010 the hotel caught fire, sustaining damage to the upper floor and roof.

In January 2014 Manor House Concepts took over the lower floor of the building and renovated the two downstairs dining rooms into a single café, fronting Temple Street.