Originally conceived by Nick Jones MBA, the Founder of Soho House, Mollie’s launched in 2019 with a Motel, Diner and Drive-Thru in Buckland, Oxfordshire, followed earlier this year by the second at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol, where the group invested in excess of £15 million. The third is expected to arrive in 2022 and will shelter a larger hotel in the former Granada TV Studios in Manchester city centre, with a Soho House located above on the building’s top floors.
A further 10 locations have already been earmarked as part of the immediate expansion plan.
Image credit: Mollie’s Motel & Diner
Exclusively designed by the Soho House interiors team, Mollie’s mission is to forge a new ‘budget luxe’ proposition within the travel and leisure industry – focusing on stylish, affordable stays, contemporary design, excellent service, innovative tech, sustainability and destination dining inspired by the retro American roadside diner.
Mollie’s has two formats and are seeking two- to three-acre freehold sites in strategic edge-of-town or roadside locations with the opportunity for 75-plus bedrooms, 145-plus cover diner and car parking. The city centre model will focus on prime city centre locations with high prominence with an opportunity for more than 100 bedrooms, 145-plus cover diner and 125-plus cover lounge/bar.
With significant investor support, the brand’s aims to grow to 100 sites in the next 10 years. To achieve this, it has retained Fleurets to support the expansion plan through site search and acquisition, both in roadside and city centre locations.
“We are delighted to be working with Mollie’s to grow this exciting challenger concept in the hotel and leisure market,” said Paul Hardwick Head of Hotels at Fleurets and Kevin Conibear, Head of Urban Markets at Fleurets. “Mollie’s has reinvented the perception of the roadside hotel and diner, with high quality accommodation and dining, but at affordable prices. The customer response to Bristol has been hugely positive and this is a welcome addition and enhancement to the vibrancy of our city centres and edge of town, roadside locations.”
Mollie’s Motel & Diner is now backed by a new strategic shareholder cohort and led by Managing Director, Darren Sweetland (Soho House, Tesco Plc).
> Since you’re here, why not read about the latest expansion plans from Soho House?
Main image credit: Mollie’s Motel & Diner
