We’d like to start this review by saying – we’ve never seen anything like Mollie’s! A comparison that comes to mind was when Tebay (and now Gloucester) Services opened. It was John & Barbara Dunning (farmers in Cumbria) who set up Tebay. They did something radical, rewrote the rule book, and it paid off. Tebay is now the most famous and respected services in the UK, followed closely by our beloved Gloucester!
Mollie’s Motel and Diner (A40, Buckland Oxfordshire) is a purpose built 3-storey 1950’s inspired American diner, motel and drive-thru by Soho House. We were invited to their launch party – tag #molliessleepover.
Torrential rain and freezing weather on the drive over, made the welcome all that warmer. The huge red neon ’Mollie’s Motel’ signage sprawled across the motel is unmissable from the road. Red neon is synonymous with an alluring, underground, ‘downtown’ vibe or eluding to hidden secrets. What a surprise it was! The hotel from the 2018 movie ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ came to mind in terms of style – noir, mysterious, old time Hollywood/Californian Lodge resort.
We took some photos of the inside the reception so you can see the style. It can also be used as a casual working space with complimentary refreshments for weary travellers.
After a swift check-in, we strolled up to our room on the third floor and began to get ready for the party. Our room was sleek and free of clutter. Priced at around £70 a night felt exceptionally reasonable! Just inside the door was a discrete wood panelled sliding door leading to the loo and shower room and on the right a compact sink and mirror. The bathroom featured quality fixtures and fittings such as a glorious waterfall shower, soft close loo seat and a full-length mirror had cleverly been incorporated to the back of the sliding door.
The Mollies Motel TV menu helpfully listed food you can order and all the items a traveller can borrow or use from the ‘General Store’ in the Motel’s reception. Items from American sweets to grooming essentials, although unbelievably they didn’t list hairdryer under the “Electricals” section, despite picking that up from reception when we checked in. There’s no hairdryer or telephone in the rooms, but towels, loo roll, bedding and Cowshed shower products are supplied (a fine British brand).
It was unbelievably exciting to see a menu on the TV of all the American sweets you can access for free from the reception! Nice touch!
When 7pm rolled round we darted across the car park through all the Mercs with private plates to Mollie’s Diner to be welcomed with Champagne, Mollie’s Mules and Aperol Spritz cocktails. Popular in the 50’s, popular now!
Jeremy Clarkson, Dec, Richard Bacon and Paloma Faith who must be Soho House clients, came along too. Would have loved to say we mingled with them but we were all too shy!
Our meal started with nachos, prawn cocktail and crumbed cod pieces. Our waitress, Maria, who worked all night till late and then served us again for breakfast the next day at 7am, was a real trouper and kept the food coming, we were royally spoilt!
Now, ultimately the main reason you’re here to see the photos of food, so get ready to drool…
