I suspect that if you asked most Brits, they would imagine a Motel to be pretty low quality and something to be avoided. We’re more used to staying in a hotel and viewing that very American of institutions with a bit of disdain, but are we wrong to do so? Well, yes. Mollie’s — designed and created by Soho House — is dispelling the myth and enticing more of us through its high-quality doors.

The Mollie’s brand launched in 2019 with a Motel, Diner & Drive-Thru in Buckland (halfway between Oxford and Swindon) to offer travellers a distinctive and disruptive ‘budget-luxe’ twist on the American motel. Currently, Mollie’s has two locations in the UK (this one near Oxford and another Mollie’s near Bristol), but there are plans afoot for another 10 across the country, starting with a motel scheduled to open in Manchester by early 2024.

As you approach Mollie’s Motel and Diner, you’re greeted by the large, red and black, unashamedly Americana-led neon sign guiding you into the car park, with a smaller version of the same illuminating the reception entrance. Once you step through the doors, though, the vibe becomes much more relaxed, with not a drop of brash lighting to be seen. The glitz is replaced by softer, warmer woods and fabrics, much more reminiscent of Norway than New York.

There are two ways to check in to the motel — the traditional chat-to-the-receptionist-and-get-a-key-card-for-your-room method, or, for those who are arriving late in the evening or simply prefer less interaction, there’s an online check-in option which will then issue you a room number and the ability to use your mobile phone as a room key. That system is replicated with terminals in the lobby area, allowing you to check in while avoiding eye contact with the desk staff. We chose the traditional route, learning a little more about the venue and its offerings from the reception staff, before heading up the stairs to our room.

Mollie’s Motel Oxford: The Room

The 79 rooms at Mollie’s are simply yet stylishly decorated, with the wood theme continuing through from the reception. The decor is muted but elegant, with grey and off-white walls adding a nice contrast to the warm wood tones, making it feel comfortable and inviting. The large, floor-to-ceiling window gave lots of natural light, creating an airy feeling to the room.

Rooms aren’t overburdened with space, but what space there is has been cleverly used. The bathroom, for example, contains everything you need, including a large rainfall shower that spans the entire width of the room, but rather than squeeze too much into a tiny room, Mollie’s has placed the sink in the space behind the room door, right outside the bathroom. It works and makes use of an otherwise wasted space. A sliding door to the bathroom makes the whole space feel much more significant when moving between the rooms, too.

What is lacking a little is space to store your luggage. There isn’t a full wardrobe, just an open hanging space which isn’t particularly wide, with a shelf low down for bags; storage would be challenging if two of you spend more than a single night at Mollie’s. Still, it’s aimed at the traveller looking for a decent bed for the night rather than those expecting a destination. And a proper king-sized bed it was, covered in soft Egyptian cotton sheets.

Elsewhere, the room had everything we needed, including a Dyson hair dryer and straighteners, three-pin and USB sockets by the bed, a small table and comfy chair, a decent flatscreen TV, and toiletries by Cowshed. Tea and coffee-making facilities were available, but rather than having a kettle in each room, Mollie’s has put a hot and cold water station on each floor. That’s a great idea in many ways — have you ever looked inside a hotel kettle? — but it did feel a little strange wandering down the corridor for an early morning cup of coffee in my pyjamas.

For those turning up in an electric car, Mollie’s has plenty of charging stations to plug into — there are eight at the Oxford motel, with more being added. Six fast chargers are well suited to overnight guests, with a pair of rapid chargers available for those stopping for a quick bite to eat.

Mollie’s Motel Oxford: The Diner

Opposite the motel is Mollie’s Diner, a restaurant with Americana at its core. Booth-style seating runs down the middle of the diner, with art-deco lamps warmly illuminating the tables. Free-standing tables run alongside, all in front of the open kitchen, with some bar stools for those wanting a quick snack.

Black and white tiled flooring contrasts with the white walls and high ceilings, giving a light and spacious feel. The building amplifies sound, though, so it can be a rather noisy venue even when there are few people inside. An outside patio area is available if the weather is being kind, but it’s on the side of the building that’s just a few metres from the road and entrance to the BP service area, so you’d have to be a committed alfresco diner to choose to use it.

The menu is packed with American diner favourites; stacked burgers, hot dogs, waffles and chicken, steaks, and mac’ n’ cheese. There are a handful of vegetarian and vegan options available, too, so there should be something to suit all tastes, but don’t go in looking for a low-calorie option.

My starter was the polarising Frickles — fried, sliced pickles — which you rarely see in the UK. I adored them, but my dining companion was happy to stick with his popcorn chicken with pineapple barbecue sauce. Put aside thoughts of KFC’s popcorn chicken, as these were delightful.

A half spatchcock chicken served with smoky chipotle and parsley sauce, dressed slaw, and sweet potato fries was a perfect main course. Cooked beautifully, it was succulent and flavoursome, and there was plenty of it too. My partner stuck with American tradition and ordered the double bacon cheeseburger, which was a good size and cooked to be firm yet juicy, and loaded with baconnaise, lettuce and tomato.

We succumbed to the bijou dessert menu — cherry pie and ice cream was too much to be able to resist! The alluring promise of American pie meant the result was disappointing; the flavours were good, but the pastry was pale and undercooked, giving it a soggy bottom and feeling quite chewy. The plant-based ice cream that accompanied it was delicious, though.

Not to be left behind, my companion opted for the chocolate chip cookie, a skillet of baked chocolate chip cookie dough topped with vanilla ice cream. Here I must caution you — it’s pretty sizable! And it’s also served scorchingly hot, so don’t be too eager to dig in.

It’s all supported by a drinks list that includes Mollie’s branded beers brewed by London’s Forest Road brewery, a small range of cocktails and alcohol-free mocktails, and a decent wine list — we opted for a bottle of Cap Cette Picpoul de Pinet, which went down well.

We skipped the milkshakes, which was a mistake in some respects, as they looked epic. Others that have experienced Mollie’s speak with tremendous positivity about the shakes, but there was no way of managing one as well as three courses of food.

Seeing that the diner is a popular spot for locals was pleasing, which is a surprise as it doesn’t seem to be particularly close to any residential areas. We visited on a Tuesday evening, and the diner was busy with families and couples, making for a pleasant atmosphere.

Mollie’s Motel Oxford: The Breakfast

The choice available for breakfast is as good as it was for dinner the night before. You’ll find stalwart options like a full English or a breakfast bun with egg, bacon, and avocado and plenty of egg-based options or pancake stacks with bacon or fruit. After some deliberation, I chose the plant-based choice of loaded banana bread with coconut yoghurt, pumpkin seeds, and raspberries, which was extremely tasty. The yoghurt and fresh fruit made for a great energy-boosting start to my day.

My partner eschewed any healthy options and picked waffles with bacon and fried eggs, although it could have been worse; Oreos or salted caramel and Biscoff are amongst the other toppings available for the waffle. Freshly made in a press, the waffle was more significant than anticipated and definitely a breakfast to suit a larger appetite. The eggs lacked seasoning, but the bacon and maple syrup added all the flavour he needed.

I added a berry smoothie, too, from the Mollie’s ‘M’ Press selection, anticipating a freshly blitzed glassful. Alas, it was a premade drink which would be better described as a juice than a smoothie.

Mollie’s Motel Oxford: The Verdict

What Soho House has created with Mollie’s Motel and Diner is impressive. With quality accommodation at a reasonable price — rates generally hover around £75–£100 a night — and a great diner onsite, it’s likely to continue to replicate the success it’s had in Bristol and Oxford with each new location it opens.

What stood out throughout our visit, though, was the staff. Everyone we dealt with was superb and seemed to genuinely enjoy working for Mollie’s. The motel accommodation and quality of the food are essential, but the enthusiastic, friendly, helpful staff lifted the whole experience to an even higher level.

It’s time to banish the British view of the motel. Mollie’s is making it more desirable and affordable to take a high-quality night away when travelling and doing enough to switch everyday travellers away from the likes of Hilton and Holiday Inn. We look forward to seeing many more Mollie’s around the country.

What: Mollie’s Motel and Diner
Where: Shrivenham Rd, A420, Buckland, Faringdon SN7 8PY
Web: Mollies.com

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