I check in to the UK’s coolest motel
Inside Soho House’s Mollie’s motel and diner concept
Not since Crossroads has a motel been so high-profile, but the team behind Soho House has managed the impossible – to make the motel and diner concept cool again.
Admittedly, checking in to a hotel on the side of a busy road doesn’t usually equate with a luxury experience, but as I pulled in to Mollie’s, on the A420, just outside of Oxford, I could see this was no ordinary roadside hotel.
Mollie’s is the brainchild of Nick Jones, founder of Soho House, and an ode to American motels and drive-in diners. Think big neon red signs, shakes, burgers and even a drive-through window. The 79 rooms in the motel are sleek and modern and a real masterclass in how to do things minimally, but stylishly and comfortably.
Think natural oak, slate, Hypnos mattresses, velvet Conran armchairs and rain-shower bathrooms, with Soho House’s gorgeous Cowshed products. Note – that includes a large separate conditioner, thank you from long-haired people the world over, who hate shampoo-conditioner combos which DO NOT WORK!
But I digress. Back to the room – it’s compact, with a small space to hang your clothes and the sink by the door, as there’s no room in the bathroom, but that leaves plenty of space to relax in the main area. And the point of a motel is you are on your way somewhere else, after all. A small observation, my pretty pink velvet armchair did have a large stain on it – I’d guess someone previously dropped their coffee over it – but that’s only a minor quibble.
There’s a main lobby and bar, where lots of cool types were hanging out, co-working, or enjoying a cocktail. I also thought the concept of hot and chilled water points on each corridor, clever – you took your water jug out for boiling or chilled water, negating the need for a kettle.
The diner is really cool – an Americana-inspired space with long kitchen and bar area, plus booths. Think burgers, shakes, floats, taco salads and an apple pie, or knickerbocker glory, for dessert. I went for a flat iron steak and house slaw, which I enjoyed – sadly, I didn’t have room to wash it down with a salted caramel and fudge shake, but I was tempted.
Breakfast is in the same diner – I enjoyed poached eggs with, I do have to admit, incinerated toast, and a strong and delicious Darkwoods ethically-sourced coffee. Other delicious-looking options include a stack of pancakes, waffles and loaded banana bread.
So far, two motel-diners, Mollie’s Oxfordshire and Bristol, are open and later this year, they’ll be joined by a mega Mollie’s in Manchester, in the same building as the city’s first Soho House.
I’d really recommend the Oxford branch, it’s well-positioned if you want to explore the Cotswolds, or break a journey to the west, Wales, or Cornwall. It’s also fabulous value – with rooms from £70. If you find yourself near one, check in! I’ll most definitely be back.
I was a guest of VisitBritain
The Travel List
Mollie’s Oxfordshire, is on the A420 at Buckland, a 20-minute drive from Oxford. Rooms from £70, mollies.com
You can buy Cowshed products here
For ideas what to do in the area, go to