P.L. Henderson was a Victorian architect who made a name for himself in pub and brewery design. He had been designing prestigious Edinburgh pubs for twenty-nine years by the time he created The Abbotsford bar. During his illustrious career he created some of Edinburgh's finest pubs, such as the Central Bar at the foot of Leith Walk and the White Hart in the Grassmarket. Among those that are still standing today the Abbotsford Bar, Deacon Brodie's, the Mitre and Leslies Bar are the most well preserved examples of his work.

Henderson was also responsible for several breweries in Duddingston, built in the brewery boom of the 1880's and was known as "the brewers architect." He had a great rapport with prominent members of the licensed trade, facilitated by his connections with the Freemasons. He designed the Masonic Hall in George Street.