It seems that non cloud accounts can't link to bank accounts. Disappointing given we pay Sage £1000 a month for this software.

I'm not sure what you mean as we're on v28 and have Bank Feeds and we're not cloud.  What confuses is that Sage call it cloud.

Follow the instructions here

Hi Ken, When I follow those steps, there's no "Connected Services Settings" and when I follow the link for "I haven't already connected my account" it leads me to the Bank Feeds button in Bank accounts. That button leads to a window extolling the virtues of having a linked bank account on Sage 50cloud accounts. For information on upgrading, click Find out more. 

I tried the Sage Chat and it was them that told me it's not available on the server version. 

Are you on a different species of Sage 50 accounts then ?

I assume that in the bank account details screen of the account you would like to download from you've Enabled/ticked the box for Bank Feeds?

Possibly. It is part of the Sage 50 Business Package, in effect Sage Accounts 50 is a freebie along with our Payroll software.

When I look in the Bank Details screen there's no tick box for Bank Feeds,  in the Account Details screen of Bank Accounts there's a big Sage Bank Feeds box that is blank apart from greyed out text saying "Direct bank feeds status" 

If I click the Reconciliations option I get a box saying to view a summary of our bank reconciliations or reverse a bank reconciliation requires Sage 50cloud Accounts.

You've been really helpful Ken, but I do wish someone from Sage would chip in to this conversation.