Oxfordshire Mini Series: Mollie's

From the traditional to the modern. When we arrived at Mollie’s, the weather was dull and grey – the red neon Motel sign beckoned us in from the drab. Brainchild of Nick Jones (founder of Soho House collective), the hotel and diner have been established in a drive to revive British roadside hotels, and they certainly deliver.

The location is unassuming, past a BP forecourt, a typical motorway services car park and straight to reception. The desk is manned 24 hours a day, with a convenience store offering a variety of ‘necessities’, including Hershey’s chocolate, as well as free tea and coffee. But the concept is centred upon this idea of convenience – you can use your app to book, check-in and access the corridor leading to your room, meaning no chit chat is required.

The rooms are panelled in blond-wood, above which a calming light green covers the walls. There’s a table, chair and bed, with Egyptian cotton sheets, no less. There’s the lights – of course, the lights that we’ve seen across Instagram and Pinterest. And a modern bathroom, complete with powerful shower and Cowshed toiletries. It’s simple. It’s clean. It’s a yes from me.

In the morning light, its possible to see the lobby in it’s full glory. It’s very Soho House – plants, design books, Scandi chairs, a large wooden table with two people playing backgammon and a guy on his MacBook. It’s the same vibe you would get in any of the other homes, providing a reassuring sense of continuity.

The diner looks to America for influence (the menu, the tiled floors), but thankfully doesn’t transplant it into Oxfordshire. It’s bright, airy and buzzing.

Apparently this is not the only Mollie’s on the cards, with similar ones opening up in Bristol and Manchester, amongst other locations. Now that’s something to look forward to when we are back on the road.