Mollie’s Motel: ‘A remake of the vintage American roadside pit-stop with an environmentally conscious spin’

When I asked my husband if he’d like to join me for a night at Bristol’s new Mollie’s Motel, he looked quite keen until I told him where we were going.

“Junction 17 on the M5,” I said. “Overlooking the A4108 roundabout at Cribb’s Causeway.”

He joined me anyway; the location is not, I admit, very glamorous, but Mollie’s is hot.

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Red neon signs loom over the two distinctive black buildings which house the new 123-room motel and restaurant.

The latter is inspired by the classic American diner (burgers, waffles, hand-spun shakes, booths of Cadillac-style leather seating).

Scandi-style, ‘budget-luxe’ rooms are furnished with light European oak, Hypnos mattresses, Conran chairs, terrazzo tiles and super-insulation.

There’s no traffic noise – you can’t even hear the motorway, a whisker to the north.

With a techy self-check-in (download the app), bunk rooms, interconnecting family rooms, fully accessible rooms, a drive thru takeaway with recyclable packaging and electric vehicle chargers (free to residents), this is a remake of the vintage American roadside pit-stop with an environmental conscience and a 21st century spin.

An offspring of the Soho House group, the concept was dreamed up by the design team behind Babington House and Soho Farmhouse – among others in the group’s global family of cool, boho members-club “homes”.

Sit back and relax at the Mollie’s Motel cocktail bar – photo: Mollie’s Motel

There are multiple room types available – photo: Mollie’s Motel

Costing £15m and built on the site of the demolished Cribbs Lodge Hotel, the Bristol model – which opened in July – is the second Mollie’s Motel and Diner.

The first is on the A420 between Oxford and Swindon, and a third is planned for the former Granada Studios in Manchester.

If you haven’t heard of Mollie’s yet, I think you will soon.

With other destinations in the pipe-line, and a mission to roll out a national chain, this ambitious new brand is taking on the likes of Travelodge ­ – with similar price points but way more street cred.

“The idea is to elevate the roadside hotel experience by offering playful, design-led interiors and good quality food at an affordable price,” says Mollie’s CEO Darren Sweetland.

Motel guests are received in Mollie’s Lounge ­– a combo of lobby, coffee and cocktail bar, living room, workspace, outside space and its signature ‘Mollie’s Store’ – a bar of snacks, popcorn and branded sleep kits among other knick-knacks.

In the all-day diner, the menu will be more or less the same across all locations, but unlike a lot of budget chains, it’s vegan-friendly and doesn’t stick to a script: at Cribbs Causeway, for example, you can order a pint of Bristol Beer Factory ales with your hot wings (or your fried aubergine marinara).

The motel is inspired by traditional American diners – photo: Mollie’s Motel

The menu is also vegan and vegetarian friendly – photo: Mollie’s Motel

“We are using national suppliers to maintain consistency across the brand, but each destination will use local suppliers that reflect the region,” says Darren.

They are also employing local people: 60 staff for the Bristol site.

With rooms priced from £50 per room per night (average around £95), the response has been “absolutely overwhelming” according to Darren.

And the concept has proved attractive to a broad demographic – think students, families, weekenders, stopovers, weekenders, business travellers.

Despite a challenging climate in the hospitality industry, Mollie’s has already been enjoying full occupancy at weekends.

Writer Lesley Gillilan is editor and author of eye-traveller.com – for hotel reviews, destination features and travel guides.

Main photo: Mollie’s Motel

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