Bank by Nicholas James

The clue is in the name. Bank by Nicholas James occupies a former bank on Penn Hill Avenue, and the conversion has kept the solidity of the old building while filling it with exposed brick, soft light and contemporary art. A single blossom tree stands in the middle of the room. The cooking is modern British, the bar is long and runs through to a garden, and on Sundays the roasts and live music pull in a Penn Hill crowd that treats the place as its local.

The food

The menu is modern British, moving between comfort cooking and a few more ambitious plates, and it shifts across lunch, dinner and the weekend. Sunday lunch is the anchor — roasts that fill the tables — while a shorter two-course option runs at lunch during the week. The bar is more than an afterthought, with cocktails, craft beer and a curated wine list, plus a daily happy hour in the late afternoon. Menus and times change with the seasons, so check the current details before planning an evening around them.

The setting

The restored bank is as much the draw as the plates. Art hangs against the old brick, the lighting stays low, and the bar flows straight into a garden that earns its keep on warm evenings. This is a room built for a long sit rather than a quick bite. After dark it takes on a second life — sunset DJ sessions, live-music Sundays and occasional supper clubs built around a set menu — so it works equally for a relaxed dinner or a drink that runs on.

Where it is

Bank is at 106 Penn Hill Avenue, in the run of shops and restaurants that makes Penn Hill one of Poole’s better places to eat out. Isabel’s Brasserie and Jenkins & Sons are near neighbours on the same stretch, so the area rewards a wander. Branksome is the closest railway station and buses run along Penn Hill Avenue; the Poole area guide sets out what else is close by.

Good to know

The building is step-free and wheelchair accessible throughout, with an accessible toilet, and there is a kids’ menu. Penn Hill’s public car park sits opposite for anyone driving. Tables can be booked ahead, which is sensible for Sunday lunch and event nights, and hours, menus and prices are the venue’s to publish, so confirm them directly. For a wood-fired pizza a short drive away, Baffi in Canford Cliffs is an easy alternative, and the restaurants hub covers the rest of the bay.

Bank By Nicholas James — good to know

Where is Bank by Nicholas James?

Bank is at 106 Penn Hill Avenue, Poole, BH14 9NA, among the shops and restaurants of Penn Hill. Branksome is the nearest railway station, and buses run along Penn Hill Avenue.

What food does Bank by Nicholas James serve?

The kitchen cooks modern British food, mixing comfort dishes with more inventive plates across lunch, dinner and the weekend. Sunday roasts are a fixture, and the bar runs a full cocktail, craft beer and wine list.

Does Bank do Sunday roasts?

Yes. Sunday lunch is one of its busiest services, with roasts drawing a regular Penn Hill crowd, often alongside live music. Booking a table ahead is sensible if you want to eat on a Sunday.

Is there parking at Bank by Nicholas James?

A public car park sits opposite the restaurant on Penn Hill Avenue, and there is on-street parking nearby. If you would rather not drive, Branksome station and local buses are both close.

Is Bank by Nicholas James wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The restored building is step-free and wheelchair accessible throughout, from the bar through to the garden, with an accessible toilet. There is also a kids' menu, so it works for families as well as couples.

Does Bank take bookings?

Yes, tables can be booked in advance, which is worth doing for Sunday lunch and event nights. Hours, menus and prices change, so check the current details on the venue's own site before you plan around them.