Missing Little Chef? Soho House is coming to the rescue with American-style motel-diners

Missing Little Chef? Soho House is coming to the rescue with American-style motel-diners – which also have drive-thrus – and the first one has opened in Oxfordshire

  • Mollie’s Motel is a motel, diner and drive-thru located in Buckland, Oxfordshire, with 79 rooms  
  • Mollie’s Diner looks like something straight out of Grease the movie, with shakes, burgers and fries on offer 
  • All of the bedrooms, which start from £50, have air conditioning and include Egyptian cotton sheets

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Little Chef roadside eateries were part of the fabric of Britain for decades – but the brand became defunct last year.

However, the roadside diner concept is getting a new lease of life – because now celebrity-favourite Soho House is getting in on the action.

It’s just opened an American-style motel-diner – with a drive-thru – in Buckland, Oxfordshire, beside the A420, with 79 rooms from just £50 a night. It’s called Mollie’s and is the first in a series of openings coming from the hip group to roadsides and city centres across the UK.  

Mollie’s Motel is the first in a series of Soho House openings coming to the roadside and city centres across the UK, inspired by the classic 1950s American diner, with rooms from £50

The restaurant, Mollie's Diner, looks like something straight out of Grease the movie but with a distinguishable Soho House twist. The mahogany wood booths are covered with dark green leather and there's a black-and-white checkerboard-style floor

The restaurant, Mollie’s Diner, looks like something straight out of Grease the movie but with a distinguishable Soho House twist. The mahogany wood booths are covered with dark green leather and there’s a black-and-white checkerboard-style floor

Little Chefs were known for their cheap and cheerful interiors - and cheap and cheerful food 

Little Chefs were known for their cheap and cheerful interiors – and cheap and cheerful food 

All the rooms are kitted out with king-size beds, Egyptian cotton sheets, high-pressure rainforest showers and Cowshed products in the bathrooms.  

The restaurant, Mollie’s Diner, looks like something straight out of Grease the movie but with a distinguishable Soho House twist. 

The mahogany wood booths are covered with dark green leather and there’s a black-and-white checkerboard-style floor.

The hotel is located in Buckland, Oxfordshire, beside the A420 and has 79 bedrooms 

The hotel is located in Buckland, Oxfordshire, beside the A420 and has 79 bedrooms 

All of the bedrooms are kitted out with Egyptian cotton sheets

There are bunk rooms available to book

The bedrooms at Mollie’s range in size from cosy double rooms to interconnecting family rooms to bunk rooms catering to larger groups. All rooms are air conditioned and decked out with Egyptian cotton sheets

Soho House CEO Nick Jones, who lives in Oxfordshire and is behind the Mollie's concept, said: 'My vision was to create an affordable place for everyone to enjoy. Whether you're a couple, a family or travelling for work, Mollie's offers a place to drive thru, eat in and sleep over.' Above, one of the communal spaces within the motel

Soho House CEO Nick Jones, who lives in Oxfordshire and is behind the Mollie’s concept, said: ‘My vision was to create an affordable place for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a couple, a family or travelling for work, Mollie’s offers a place to drive thru, eat in and sleep over.’ Above, one of the communal spaces within the motel

Choose from dishes including a ‘Dirty Burger’ – a stack of meat, cheddar, mustard, mayo, lettuce, gherkin and tomato – mac and cheese or a banana split, alongside cocktails, sodas and milkshakes.

There’s also a drive-thru that’s open from 7am until 10pm, serving a selection of favourites from the main diner, including breakfast baps and burgers.

Soho House CEO Nick Jones, who lives in Oxfordshire, said: ‘My vision was to create an affordable place for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a couple, a family or travelling for work, Mollie’s offers a place to drive-thru, eat in and sleep over.’

The motel held its official launch party at the end of the last month and it was a star-studded affair with the likes of Declan Donnelly, Jeremey Clarkson and Paloma Faith in attendance.

The Soho House group also owns the famous Soho Farmhouse near Chipping Norton, as well as other private members’ clubs around the world.

The motel has a keyless entry system, and guests can gain access to their rooms via an app

The motel has a keyless entry system, and guests can gain access to their rooms via an app

Retro: Pop star Paloma Faith strikes a pose while attending the Mollie's Motel launch night 

Retro: Pop star Paloma Faith strikes a pose while attending the Mollie’s Motel launch night 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk