New dawn for Liverpool’s ‘streaky bacon’ building

Albion House on James Street, the former headquarters of the White Star Line shipping company, has reopened as a 63-bed hotel under new ownership after years of uncertainty about its future.

Branded the White Star Line Hotel, the venue once owned by Signature Group is now under the control of Brian Gamble and Christopher Carline.

The hotel is reported to have changed hands several times since 2020 but none of the owners have been able to make it work.

Gamble and Carline are determined to invest and make a success of the venture.

“I know this building inside out, having served as general manager during its heyday,” Gamble said.

“It’s a shame Albion House has been somewhat neglected over the years, but with the right care, attention, and dedication, we are confident she will regain her former splendour. As a proud Liverpudlian, this is a personal labour of love, and I cannot wait to see her restored to the grandeur she has always deserved.”

Affectionately known among some locals as the streaky bacon building due to its distinctive brick work, Albion House was constructed in the 1890s and is where the Titanic was registered.

It became a hotel in 2014 but was put up for sale in 2020 when the Signature vehicle that controlled it went bust.

However, the asking price had not been met by 2022.

The Liverpool ECHO reported that a Hamburg-based hospitality firm acquired the building in 2023 and later that it had been picked up by a Dutch outfit.

“This is a long-term project we want to do properly,” Carline added. “We’re focused on delivering a solid guest experience, building the brand, and inviting guests to join us on this journey. The honesty, vision, and collective effort will put White Star and Albion House back where they belong.”