Mollie's Motel and Diner, which occupies the lower half of the Old Granada Studios on Quay Street in Manchester, combines 1950s-style American motel and drive-in diner aesthetics with the building's rich television history. The hotel fully opened to guests in January this year, following the opening of Soho House in the top five floors in November last year.
The building, which served as the headquarters for Granada Television from 1956 to 2013, predates the BBC Television Centre and has witnessed milestones in popular culture, including the Beatles' first television performance in 1962, the first televised general election debate in 2010, and decades of Coronation Street episodes.
Luxury suites with a mid-century twist
Mollie's is the third site of the brand, with other locations in Oxfordshire and Bristol, both found by major roads. The city centre location is an unusual choice for a motel, yet the reviewer found it works. The vast lobby is filled with eclectic 70s-style sofas and chairs, and the reception desk has a motel feel with snacks available to purchase under the counter.
The suites are spacious, described as bigger than many one-bed apartments in the city. They feature a lounge with a corner sofa, a kitchenette with sink, hot water tap, coffee machine and mini fridge, a dining table with cocktail-making station, and a bedroom with a king-sized bed and a free-standing copper bath. The walk-in wardrobe includes fluffy dressing gowns, a Dyson hair dryer, a steamer and a Peloton bike.
Dining and drinks with American flair
Studio IV, the hotel's cocktail bar and live music venue, is accessed via a spiral staircase and resembles a chic Manhattan basement lounge. The cocktail menu includes the Framboise 75, a raspberry and champagne cocktail with edible gold leaf, priced at £19.50. The bar hosts regular DJ nights, live music events and Sunday Jazz Brunch.
Mollie's Diner offers American classics such as milkshakes, burgers and fries, elevated with sophistication. Dishes sampled include Jalapeno Cheese Croquettes (£6), Atlantic prawn cocktail (£9.50), the New Yorker burger (£14.50) and Chicken Milanese (£18). Desserts, including a brownie sundae (£6.50) and cookies and cream baked cookie dough (£7.50), were described as massive and delicious.
Breakfast and practical information
Breakfast is open to anyone, not just hotel guests, with options like scrambled eggs on sourdough (£12.50) with sides of mushrooms, tomatoes and hash browns (£2.50 each), and avocado on toast (£11). The reviewer praised the creamy eggs and perfectly cooked vegetables.
Rooms at Mollie's start from £99 per night. The nearest train station is Salford Central, a ten-minute walk away, and the nearest tram stop is Deansgate-Castlefield, also a ten-minute walk. The hotel is located at Old Granada TV Studios, 2 Atherton St, Manchester M3 3GS.
