The Band of Hope, both nationally and locally in Cromer, dates back to Victorian times. One of the principal causes of poverty in the second half of the 19th century was alcohol. It would not be uncommon for a man to collect his wages at the end of the week, and to have spent most, if not all, at the local pub before reaching home. Societies were set up, particularly by elders of the Methodist Church, to try and educate people to take a more controlled attitude to drinking alcohol, and to help them make a commitment or pledge not to abstain from alcohol at entirely. These societies played a very important part the in development of education throughout the 19th and into the 20th century, providing public lectures, weekly semi-religious meetings and offering clubs and activities, particularly for the younger population.

It was proposed that a special temperance group to be set up for children under the age of 16. Its aims would be to teach them about Christianity and also the problems associated with drinking and to encourage them to live a healthy, alcohol-free lifestyle. In November 1847 the first meeting of this group took place in Leeds. About 300 children attended, 200 of whom ‘signed the pledge’ for the first time, the rest having already done so. The group became known as the ‘Band of Hope’.

The pledge of the Leeds Temperance Band of Hope was ‘I, the undersigned, do agree that I will not use intoxicating liquors as a beverage’. At around the same time other groups were starting the same kind of children’s clubs and many of them took the name ‘Band of Hope’, together becoming the Band of Hope movement. The clubs grew rapidly and by 1887 had about 1½ million members out of 8 million young people in Britain under 16 years old.

The Cromer branch of the Band of Hope was active by 1880. An old farm house not far from the current hall on Mount Street was turned into Temperance hotel, with a small 'lecture' hall attached. The Temperance Hotel was provided by the Cromer Coffee Tavern, Reading Room and Public Hall Co. Ltd. This in turn led to the idea of coffee bars being an alternative to public houses.

The Temperance Hotel was given up in 1891, and the Cromer Band of Hope therefore decided to build its own hall in Cross Street as a base to continue its work. The Lecture Hall as it was named, describing its principal use, was opened on 10th June 1891. A document of that says it was 'well lighted and ventilated, and in every' way was admirably adapted for the purpose for which it has been built'. As well as being home for the Band of Hope, it was used for many other public meetings. The one specific restriction was that alcoholic drink could not be served on the premises.