21st century version of motel and diner by Soho House Group, just outside Bristol, UK

Mollie’s Motel / Bristol / United Kingdom

Motels - I love them!

Diners - I love them!

And when combining the two it is like love squared. And what makes me especially happy is to see when brand new versions of this nostalgic thing from the past are popping up. When someone (I guess with the same kind of fascination as me but with a much larger wallet) sees the joy and the benefit of simple, comfy and good looking roadside stays. And all this applies to this place, the Mollie’s Motel in Bristol.

This is the sister property of Mollie’s Motel, just outside Oxford and I do hope these kind of places will continue to pop up offering a great place to stay the night when on the road. Because God knows it is slim pickings when trying to find a place with great design to a good price and with a good vibe out there. The Mollie’s venture is Soho House Group founder Nick Jones’ attempt in reinventing the the British roadside experience and I must say I think he is doing a mighty fine job.

The set up is very straight forward but it is (like always when it comes to the Soho Group) delivered with a twist. The lobby is multifunctional where the reception desk doubles as a shop, a bar and there is also a complimentary coffee station. Even though the area is fairly small, there are some sofas and also a huge table, perfect if you need to send an email or two. In the back there is a garden where you can sit under one of the umbrellas with something cold to drink (or hide under if it is raining. This is England after all).

The rooms are in two bodies on each side of the reception, that is connecting the two. The main feature of our room was wood. The walls are made up of thin wooden panels that give it a kind of Scandi look. There are several clever solutions, like the Dyson hair dryers that are built into a wooden box on the wall.

When staying at a Mollie’s you kind of have to eat in the adjacent diner to have the full experience. We went there both for dinner and breakfast the next morning before we continued our journey. All in all, we love this reinvention of the British roadside experience and will come back for more.

Welcome to Mollie’s Motel, just outside Bristol in southwest UK.

If you arrive by bike, there is a garage just for you.

…but is also a bar, shop and complimentary coffee station.

I have to admit, this is my favorite photo from when we stayed at Mollie’s. Love the reflection from the text on the widows.

The backyard is this lush little garden. Makes this look more like a rural hotel than a motel next to a busy intersection.

Straight forward and good-looking design

Bathrroom products by Cowshed which is the case at all Soho Group properties.

Right next door is the partner of the motel, the diner.

A short drive from Mollie’s is one of my favorite British towns, the old Roman settlement of Bath.

If you are looking for great coffee I can highly recommend Watch House in downtown Bath.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are on a road trip in the UK and you are looking for a great place to stay the night at a decent price, with good-looking and straightforward design where you can have delicious diner grub right next door.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the modern take on a nostalgic combo, that of a motel and diner. Something from the mid-20th century that has been interpreted by the Soho Group to fit the needs and wishes of the 21st century traveller, with just a hint of hipster.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to eat at the diner next door. Maybe that goes without saying. I also want to recommend a visit to nearby town of Bath. A cute little town with a history that dates back to Roman times.

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