Situated in a building dating from the late 17^th/early 18^th century, the Bank House Hotel was a late entrant into the hospitality stakes. Starting as a private dwelling built on the site of the 16^th century port tollbooth, by the end of the 18^th century Joseph Gurney set up his first bank in the building. After its banking days were over, the Grade II* listed building had several other uses including becoming offices which were used by shipbrokers, lawyers, tax inspectors, etc.

Apparently, its first foray into becoming a pub came in 1983 opening as a free house. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long as, by around 1996, the building had once again become offices.

However, in 2007 it was purchased by the owners of the Snettisham Rose & Crown and they converted the building into a hotel, bar & restaurant. It appears to have thrived, winning several awards. By 2018 the owners passed on the management of the hotel to a couple of longstanding employees who formed their own company, South Quay Hotels and one of whom has gone on to also run Wenn’s Chop & Ale House in town.

The Bank House continues to operate and, as well as providing accommodation and restaurant facilities, has not forgotten the casual drinker by offering a range of cask and keg ales and a selection of gins and other spirits.

From 1983 the pub apparently was not tied to Greene King but was either free of tie or tied to Bass Charrington (It was definitely free of tie in the 1990s so was most likely free of tie earlier but supplied by Bass Charrington as Bass and Toby bitter were advised as being on tap in 1983/4.)