Pillow Talk: Between the Sheets of Mollie's Motel & Diner, Bristol
Bristol’s industrial history as a transport hub steered Soho House to open a roadside motel here – bringing a sleek slice of Americana to the West Country’s buzziest city.
After the decline of Bristol‘s maritime industry, it was the British port city’s cutting-edge music scene that put it firmly back on the map. Since then, Bristol has become synonymous with street art – spawning secretive spray-can-toting artist Banksy – and a world-class dining scene. But you don’t have to stay central to dip your toe in its warm cultural waters. The Soho House-owned Mollie’s Motel & Diner is an uber-hip roadside inn that transports the motel model to one of the biggest crossroads in Britain, paving the way to the West Country, Wales and beyond.
1. Mollie's Motel & Diner
Motel
This is the second Soho House foray into the world of iconic American motels, having set the satnav first for Oxfordshire and now turning to Bristol, with a location in Cribbs Causeway. You’ll find no coin-operated TVs or scratchy bedsheets here, mind: only superfast wifi, Egyptian-cotton sheets and stylish interior design by the people who exported the Soho House look around the world. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without the most quintessentially American of restaurants: a ’50s-style diner, complete with cushioned booths, juicy cheeseburgers and tomato-shaped ketchup dispensers.
2. M Shed
Museum
What better way to get to know Bristol than a museum that’s all about the city? The M Shed is just that, and more. Housed in a former dockside warehouse, this top attraction recounts the story of Bristol from prehistoric times to the present day. The thousands of items on display include the likes of local artworks, archaeological finds and vintage vehicles – you can even drive a steam train and operate one of the electric cranes outside.
4. Watershed
Bar, American
5. SS Great Britain
Historical Landmark, Museum
One of the top tourist attractions in Bristol, the former passenger steamship SS Great Britain now serves as a museum telling its own story and that of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineering genius behind it. It was rescued as a beached wreck in the Falkland Islands, and parts of the Victorian vessel have been meticulously recreated, including the first-class dining saloon, brought to life with recordings of passengers’ diary entries. Head under the glass sea to get a close-up of the hull and the groundbreaking screw propeller.
6. Bristol Old Vic
Building, Theatre
7. Thekla
Music Venue, Theatre
8. Tobacco Factory
Market
9. Lido Spa and Restaurant
Restaurant, British
You won’t find too many open-air swimming pools in Bristol, but here’s one. It’s a glorious 24m (79ft) long and always heated just right for the weather, plus chlorine levels are kept as low as possible. It’s popular, so book ahead if you want to bag a two-hour swimming slot, or treat yourself to a package that includes a swim, spa session with massage and a meal in the excellent poolside restaurant.
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