Built in 1870–1871 in the Venetian Gothic style, it was designed by Edward Salomons, in collaboration with an Irish architect, John Philpot Jones.

Claire Hartwell, in her Manchester Pevsner City Guide considers the club Salomons' "best city-centre building"[1] and it has a Grade II* heritage designation.

[5] The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar with polychrome dressings and a hipped slate roof.

[7] In December 2022 the building became home to House of Books & Friends, an independent bookshop, cafe and events space.

Funded and founded by a law firm, gunnercooke, the bookshop's aim is to address loneliness and social isolation in the community.