Travel review Mollies Motel and diner Oxford and Bristol

Watch any box set or movie and they are seedy, cash-no-questions flop-houses inhabited by characters on the run - until something BAD happens, and their past catches up with them.

Yet there's a sleazy glamour to these American roadside pit-stops that's somehow lacking in a Travelodge followed by a full English in a Little Chef.

Mollie's may borrow their location and Americana styling, but there the comparison ends. Not only did nothing BAD happen when we stayed in the Oxfordshire branch, but the whole experience was very GOOD indeed.

The rooms are compact but designed with restful natural tones and comfy hypnos beds with luxury linen (Image: Mollie's)

No narco deals, no Feds on a stakeout, no Norman Bates attacking you in the bathroom, just Cowshed smellies, a decent rainfall shower, and luxury hypnos beds and linen for a great night's sleep.

It's designed by Soho House, so once you've passed beneath the neon signage you'll find pale green natural tones, warm woods and retro industrial styling.

The bedrooms are compact and minimalist - there's not masses of wardrobe or sitting space - but they are comfortable with quality finishes, fast free Wifi, and you can stream your services through the TV.

The Diner serves American-style breakfasts, lunches and dinner including soft scoop sundaes (Image: Mollie's)

Far from paying with used dollar bills, there's a thoroughly modern app that allows you to check-in and put your room key on your phone. Stateside touches included a hot and cold drinks tap in the corridors, and unlimited coffee and tea in reception.

Add in a kiosk selling Candy Kittens, Tony's Chocoloney, and cocktails for £9, and the whole family was happy.

Located on the A420, 30 mins from Oxford, there are plenty of EV charging points, a service station, and best of all Mollie's diner. Ask any child if they would like light fluffy American pancakes and waffles for breakfast soused in sweet cream and Biscoff, and they will bite your hand off.

Breakfast includes fluffy pancakes, waffles, French toast and full English with hash browns (Image: Mollie's)

But Mollie's has something for everyone; there's the diner staple of bottomless coffee, a jug of maple syrup to pour over your bacon, plus healthy smoothies, French toast with berries, and a full English with crispy home made hash browns.

"If I lived nearby I'd drive here all the time for breakfast," I said. The kids eagerly nodded.

Mollie's Diner also does lunches, drive-thru take-away, and evening meals. The night before we slid into one of the Cadillac-style booths and enjoyed burgers, super thick milkshakes, and pre-iced glasses of their house beer.

We tried the bacon double cheeseburger with fries (Image: Mollie's)

Try the frickles; crunchy deep fried pickles dunked in garlic mayo, or the hot and sour buffalo wings with blue cheese sauce. There are salads, buttermilk fried chicken tenders, a flat iron chicken, and Texan pork belly with BBQ sauce and house beans. (Sadly all gone).

We tucked into an excellent double bacon cheeseburgers with house relish and sweet potato fries, and crispy Nashville buttermilk chicken burgers with ranch sauce and chipotle mayo. We couldn't resist sides of creamy mac n cheese with crispy crump topping, and a fresh, light slaw.

You can pop a shot of Bourbon into your shake if you like, but nearing food saturation, we could only manage to share a baked American cheesecake with blueberry sauce (excellent) and soft serve ice-cream with cookie crumb and salted caramel before loosening our belts and rolling off to bed.

Milkshakes with different flavours (Image: Mollie's)

The American vibe was a huge contrast to visiting Oxford, where you wander around 900-year-old colleges, and gawp at the Bodleian library and honey-hued Sheldonian Theatre, while the city's students come and go to their lectures.

Places to visit include the free Ashmolean Museum which houses everything from Egyptian mummies to works of art, the interactive Oxford Castle and Prison, or take a guided tour of Christ Church to see the Quad, cathedral and Hogwarts-ish great hall.

We explored the shops and winding streets, sadly the Eagle and Child where JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis met up is temporarily closed for refurbishment, but there are plenty of great pubs.

Then we headed off to that temple of consumerism Bicester designer outlet to shop the sales before making the hour-long trip home.

Whether you want a great pit-stop on your way to somewhere else, or a destination in itself, Mollie's and it's budget luxury is the way to go.

Weekend staycation packages are available at Mollie's Bristol and Oxford locations for stays until March 2024. Ideal for a romantic escape, or a family adventure, they include Mollie's Sunday Sleepover for two, £120 with breakfast, a burger and bedroom snack, and a family sleepover for four in a bunk room for £199 including breakfast and dinner in the Diner.  Or book direct to save 15% off your room rate and receive a £10 voucher to be redeemed at The Diner, until February 29 (excluding half term).