Mollie’s Bristol is a ‘budget-luxe’ roadside motel and diner from Soho House Group, where rooms are furnished by Conran and there’s trendy co-working space with unlimited coffee. Jenny Southan reports
Best known for its global chain of private members’ clubs, Soho House Group has opened a second spin-off Mollie’s motel and diner in Bristol, following Mollie’s Oxfordshire in 2019.
Mollie’s Bristol is a roadside motel and diner situated off the M5 that links the Midlands to South-West England. It is a short drive from Bristol city centre.
With rooms from just £50 a night, Soho House said in a statement that the vision for Mollie’s is to “transform affordable travel with a distinctive and disruptive ‘budget-luxe’ offering”.
The Motel
The three-floor property has 123 Soho House-designed rooms featuring a number of brand collaborations – there is Conran furniture and lighting, Hypnos mattresses, and Dyson and GHD hair appliances.
Mollie’s provides four room categories – Double, Twin, Connected (sleeping four or six people) and Bunk (sleeps four).
In short, it’s a revolution for motels, which have traditionally made little effort to make stays luxurious for consumers. (They are a necessity, after all.)
At the heart of the property is Mollie’s Lounge, which is encompasses a central welcome zone and co-working space (where guests can avail of free bottomless tea and Mollie’s own artisanal house coffee blend), Mollie’s Store and a comfy living room.
The Diner
Meanwhile, all-day food and cocktails are served at the 195-seat diner, where interiors were aso designed exclusively by Soho House.
Soho House Group says: “Guests can choose to dine at classic counter seating, relax into leather banquettes inspired by the interior of a Cadillac, or eat al fresco at the comfortable heated outdoor terrace.”
High-calorie “hand-spun” shakes include salted caramel and Oreo flavours, while dessert ranges from hot apple pie to chocolate and cornflake pudding. There is also a section on the menu for ice cream sundaes. For breakfast, you can order this decadent French toast.
Kids’ meals are priced at an affordable £6.50, including a drink. Soho House Group says: “Parents will be pleased with available, healthy dining options as well as the extensive and thoughtful baby changing facilities on beautifully clean terrazzo countertops.”