Way back in September (yes I am late to sharing this) we took a surprise trip over to Oxford for a night away, our first night away with a baby! It was Dan’s birthday so I wanted somewhere far enough away that it was worth the drive but also not a crazy long journey with a then one year old. Mollies Motel’s fit the bill and after seeing it on Instagram, I knew the Oxford destination was a great shout.
Mollies Motel – our stay!
Mollies Motel is a hotel and diner situated in Oxfordshire and Bristol. The motel has become a big hit for UK stays due to its stylish, on trend decor plus cleverly designed rooms with fantastic amenities. It’s simplistic but works brilliantly when you really do just need a bed for the night!
Upon check in, you walk into what is a reception/lobby area which oozes cool vibes in terms of interior design. There’s a couple of sofas and work spaces and a front desk which also doubles up as a bar/shop! As it is a motel, it doesn’t have a kitchen in the hotel itself but you can pick up drinks, free coffee, water and alcohol/soft drinks to purchase from the front desk which is constantly manned. The check in was super friendly, welcoming and helped us understand bits about the hotel!
Now a disclaimer to be honest, at first we went to check into our room and unfortunately the room was far from clean. There was dust everywhere, so much so you could write your name in it on the table, under the bed and the bathroom. It was like the room hadn’t been used in months. Considering the whole covid situation, you totally wouldn’t have expected such a dirty room (and also far from ideal with a toddler). We let reception know who were super apologetic and I think they were surprised too and quickly given an alternative room which was spotless and just as great.
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The rooms are simplistic in design but offer everything you need! The bed was probably the comfiest bed I’ve slept on in a hotel to be honest, I normally struggle with most hotel beds just because nothing beats my own but this was a real winner. Despite the rooms being under £100, they were huge! There was plenty of room to walk around and enough space for suitcases and a travel cot to be out even with an armchair/table etc. The bathroom was huge and modern with a fantastic shower. The only ‘odd’ bit about the room that takes a minute to get used to is the bathroom sink is in the hallway of the room. So whilst you’ve got a sink to use, it is outside the bathroom so when you need to wash your hands after using the toilet, you need to go into the room to do so!
In the morning when we needed to sort Romilly’s milk, Dan just popped to the front desk to get the hot water for Romilly’s bottle and himself a coffee. It was no inconvenience but if you do prefer a kettle in your room, then it is worth noting!
Mollie’s Diner – The Food!
Opposite the motel is the diner! Mollie’s Diner is just as fun with it’s cool American diner vibes with beautiful interiors that scream insta-worthy! The diner offers great variety in the form of burgers, hot dogs and more. All made super fresh with a cocktail menu to boot! We had dinner and breakfast here which is not included in the room price but since it’s a stones throw away from the diner, makes sense to enjoy.
The prices were reasonable for the quality, it isn’t a fast food place but an actual restaurant! You could easily spend a few hours here which compliments the stay as the motel doesn’t have many spaces for chilling besides a bit of space in the lobby/your own room.
Both of us enjoyed our meal and Romilly had the children’s menu which was salmon, fresh vegetables and potatoes. It was lovely to be able to give her a meal that wasn’t just burger and chips or sausage and mash!
When we had breakfast the next morning, we were almost still full from our dinner. The menu is full of delicious items such as a full English, pancakes and eggs. All your classics but made the Mollie’s way! I loved my breakfast and Romilly tucked into her beans too. Overall, we couldn’t fault anything about the restaurant and if we were to pass again would happily pop by for a burger or dog!
Overall impressions!
Mollies Motel and Diner, for the price, is completely worth a visit. To get any hotel room for under £100 is pretty tricky without an offer, so for this to be available throughout the year in two locations is fantastic and I would recommend everyone visits. Whilst it may not have some of the benefits of a larger hotel building, it doesn’t need more, nine of out ten times you do just want a bed for the night before you go on further adventures. It was only a short 20 minutes from Oxford City Centre so we headed there after our stay which was a great location for city stays without the cost of a central hotel.
I would happily stay again and maybe even visit the Bristol location which I hear has Dyson hairdryers and GHD’s in the room itself! Madness right?!
Book your stay and find out more about Mollies Motel by clicking here.
