The brand, created by Soho House CEO Nick Jones MBE and backed by a shareholder cohort led by managing director Darren Sweetland, is looking to open in roadside and city centre locations across the UK over the coming decade. Openings will be for both of Mollie’s two formats - an edge-of-town or roadside location with around 75 bedrooms and a 145-cover diner; and a larger city centre model with space for around 100 bedrooms, a 145-cover diner and a 125-cover lounge bar.
Designed by the Soho House interiors team, Mollie’s, which is inspired by the retro American roadside diner, has been designed to create a new ‘budget luxe’ proposition within the travel and leisure industry.
Mollie’s launched in 2019 with a Motel, Diner & Drive-thru in Buckland, Oxfordshire, followed earlier this year by the second at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. A third, larger hotel in the former Granada TV Studios in Manchester city centre is scheduled to open next year with Soho House located above Mollie’s on the building’s top floors.
A further 10 locations have already been earmarked as part of the immediate expansion plan, according to the company.
Mollie’s has retained Fleurets to support the expansion plan through site search and acquisition. “Mollie’s has reinvented the perception of the roadside hotel and diner, with high quality accommodation and dining, but at affordable prices,” it says.
“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.”