This Weeks Happy

Mollies Motel and Diner Bristol

- Vicki
mollies motel building bristol

Mollies Motel is just off the M5 outside of Bristol, it is perfectly located for us to stay there to break up a long journey to & from Scotland (to see my family), or we like to stay there if we have an early flight from Bristol airport. Mollies have 3 locations, Bristol, Oxfordshire and the newest addition will be Manchester (still being finished ETA Autumn 2025). They have been designed by the man behind the iconic and stylish SoHo House, as a nod to the American roadside Motel / Diner concept, and they have done a fantastic job.

The big red neon sign greets you as you leave the motorway and is very Americana, the Motel is in a sleek black wood with big windows and looks very minimal. You instantly know from the lobby that SOHO house has had a hand in the design, the reception area is bright and welcoming, they have lots of snacks, toiletries and essentials you might have forgotten to pack or need for your stay. They have free clipper tea (a variety of flavours) and free filter coffee in the lobby for you to enjoy 24 hours a day.

There is also a very nice (well stocked) bar in the lobby too, where you can enjoy a beer, cocktail or get a barista coffee. I love all the seating around the reception, lots of nice sofas, armchairs and even a long tressel table that’s perfect for sitting with your laptop to do some work. There are even wireless phone chargers at every table (including the diner), so you don’t ever need to be on 1% battery and in a panic.

In the warmer months they open the bifold doors, and you have access to the courtyard, which is a lovely space to enjoy the evening sun and have a drink. I am a big fan of the orange patio furniture, I just need to be there when it is sunny enough to sit outside.

We always pay the extra £10 for early check in, which is 1pm, or their normal check in time is 3pm. We tend to get there at 1-ish so we can head to Cribbs which is a fab retail park and shopping centre. We have NOTHING like it in Cornwall, and it is nice to do some retail therapy and grab some dinner there. I tend to get my eyebrows done at Benefit and pick up the last bits and bobs for travelling. The shopping centre has some great shops like, Harrods Beauty, Mango, John Lewis, Oliver Bonas and the usual shops like Boots, Superdrug & all that jazz.  There is more than just the shopping centre, they have a huge retail park with lots of shops, and it is a 2-min drive from Mollies, so handy.

Because Mollies is so close to the M5 and has free parking (and EV charging), we often stay here when we have gigs in Bristol city, as the access to the city centre is so easy. We get the bus from Mollies in to the city which takes about 30 mins  (buses are every 15 mins) and the last bus back is really late, like after midnight, and it is much more affordable than staying in the centre and paying car parking. It works well for us.

We have stayed here about 8 times now and always ask for the same room, we are creatures of habit and a good nights sleep is a must. We have found a quiet room, that has always worked for us, we like to look over the Diner, on the 2nd floor, and we ask for their non feather bedding (as my husband has allergies). The rooms are well laid out, lots of space and very bright, the mix of yellow, green and the wooden touches make it feel calm and stylish. You get coffee and tea in your room (as well as in the lobby) and there is a hot tap and filtered water tap on every floor.

One thing that I appreciate are the Cowshed products, there is a handwash and hand cream by the sink area as well as shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower. These products are luxurious and smell like a cowshed spa, such a nice touch. In every room there are also Dyson hairdryers and GHD straighteners, which is also fantastic. These small touches make such a difference when you are travelling, they make your stay more comfortable, I also like that their bath towels are huge! No one wants to get out of the shower & have to use a teeny tiny towel.

The king-size bed is very comfortable, the bedding feels like nice quality, the rooms have black out curtains and the windows let in zero noise, you would never know that the M5 was right there because it is silent. The bathroom has a rainfall shower and like I said Cowshed products, there are two chairs, a table and plenty of space for your clothes / suitcase so you’re not tripping over your belongings.

We have had dinner in Mollies Diner which is right next door, I know that they’re quite famous for their breakfasts, American style pancakes, but sadly they’re not vegan so we have not been over for breakfast. I can tell you that their plant based burgers are pretty damn good, it is as you would expect for a Diner, very American style in both decor and the menu. Cool booths, and an open style kitchen which creates a cool atmosphere. The food is always 10/10 very tasty, well presented and priced.

They sell their own beer which my husband really enjoys, and we were also given free prosecco once as it was my birthday, again another very nice touch. The staff in both the Diner and the Motel are so friendly and accommodating even when very busy.

Like most hotels, the price fluctuates, we have found that the weekends are cheaper, as due to the handy location for the motorway & Bristol a lot of business people stay during the week. Also as you would expect Summer holidays are more expensive, we have booked for as little as £60 and also paid £150 so quite a range of prices.

From what I have experienced, their customer service is impeccable, I always ask for the same room, hypoallergenic bedding and early check in, and they have always delivered without a problem. I find so many establishments have let standards slip, especially as they grow in popularity and get busy, but Mollies keeps to a standard, and it is nice to see.

Are you a creature of habit and when you find a hotel you like tend to return? Let me know if you have been to Mollies and what you think, or if you have heard of them and always wondered if they were any good.

The Barn, 4 Nights In Devon

- Vicki
devon weekend break

Let me tell you about the most idyllic place I have ever stayed, I wanted a few days away from home, somewhere quite close but not in Cornwall. Do you ever get to a point where you just need a break from where you love but don’t want it to be a big thing, just far enough away that you feel like you are on holiday but close enough that you dont have to plan an expedition.

The barn was less than an hour from my house, just across the Cornish border in Devon, it is tucked away on a farm in a very, very peaceful location. Perfect for what I needed. I was craving being offline, just me & my husband to decompress, read, drink wine, cook have some proper quiet time.

The barn is on a farm and is owned by an interior designer and a photographer, they renovated it themselves, even the cob and lime rendering was done by them. It is a stunning space, open-plan living and kitchen space with a lovely long farmhouse table which we spent so much time at. The bathroom is also downstairs, it had a roll top bath, incredible rainfall shower and underfloor heating.

Upstairs is the bed deck with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, the bedroom has so much light from 4 huge skylights. The space had such good energy.

We turned off our phones when we got there, didn’t watch any TV, listened to music on their SONOS, cooked lovely meals and read our books. The hosts also had wonderful taste in magazines and had left so many great interiors and photography ones. I read them all, the Country Living Modern Rustic ones gave me so much inspiration and since coming home I may have bought a copy or two for myself.

Our hosts baked us a vegan banana bread (delicious) and left local tea and coffee (with a grinder, so we could have freshly ground coffee) so we were all set. The weather was perfect for having 4 lazy days, it was stormy and wet almost the entire time we were there, but listening to the rain on the skylights and the wind rustling though the trees was so relaxing. We didn’t leave the property from the moment we arrived & being still & peaceful for 4 days is just what we needed.

The bathroom was lovely, very minimal but felt bright, clean, and rustic. There was a huge skylight which let in so much natural light. The roll top bath was huge and very relaxing. I spent a lot of time reading and soaking in there. The shower was also amazing, very powerful, and it was a rainfall shower which I love, oh, and they had underfloor heating which made it so cosy and warm. Not what you think you’d need in July, but the weather was more Autumn than Summer.

The kitchen as I said was open plan and the huge table in the middle of the room was great for prepping meals, and it meant the space felt very social. It had everything we needed, as we cooked all our meals here over the 4 days. So we put it to good use. We spent a lot of time in this part of the house, either cooking or sat at the dining table, with the stable door open & the patio doors too. Just listening to music or the sounds of the comings and goings of the surrounding farms. Simply idyllic.

I live in Cornwall at the moment and have been here for almost 10 years now, hard to believe the time has gone so quickly. I never meant to stay here that long, but I became comfortable, and it was easier to stay put than move. We have had quite a few big life-changing events happen over the last 3 years, I didn’t have the energy to think about moving but being in this space made me realise that although I live in a pretty part of the country, the road I live on has become so busy, over the years the traffic has increased so much and the noise is getting to me. Staying in such a peaceful location made me realise that I have to move, and I think it is time I said goodbye to Cornwall and try somewhere new.

So 2025 will see me in a new location, not sure where yet, but what I do know for certain is that it will not as far south, or in a busy tourist location.

How cute is this classic Nissan, it is a Pao, they only made a very small number of them, I have only ever seen one other and that was in St Ives & it is a Japanese import I fell in love with it, and now I really want one, it is so full of character and ideal for driving on the small country lanes

It is safe to say that a mini break was much needed and long overdue. I will not leave it so long next time before I take some proper time off and also time away from my phone and being constantly connected. It was nice to properly relax and for my mind not to be worrying, planning or over thinking. I am already planning to go back here in December.

Sunshine Cafe Penryn

- Vicki
vegan cafe penryn

The Sunshine Cafe is tucked away in the pretty Cornish coastal town of Penryn. I went just before the Summer holidays, as like much of Cornwall it can get a bit busy there, and with it being quite a small town there is very limited parking. I managed to go on an unusually quiet day and it was so peaceful and charming.


The Sunshine Cafe has been on my radar for a couple of years now, I have had friends recommend it to me & I have also been following them on social media, drooling over all their delicious vegan food and drinks. It did not disappoint, in fact it was a lovely place to stop for a bite to eat. The café space it bright, calm and a very friendly place, I loved the decor and how everything on the menu is plant based with an emphasis on using good local produce. I could have sat in there all day, I felt very relaxed. The food was delicious, I had the vegan beans & sausage on sourdough with a side of sweet potato fritters and an Almond Milk Matcha. I didn’t have room for a sweet treat, but I did spy quite a few options like a vegan croissant, brownies, and carrot cake. If you’re in Penryn, I highly recommend it even if you are not plant based, the food is incredible.

They also have a wonderful yoga space attached to the cafe they offer so many classes throughout the day, from pilates to yoga and guided meditation. I need to go back, so I can attend one of the vinyasa or pilates classes.

Sunshine Cafe and Yoga, Hill Head, Harbour Village, Penryn, TR10 8JU

www.sunshinecafeandyoga.co

Gorran Haven Cornwall

- Vicki
Cornish Coastal Village

Having lived in Cornwall for almost 8 years now, you would have thought I’d explored quite a lot of it. I have been to so many beautiful places, but there is still so much to see. I have been making it a priority to get out more and be a tourist in my own backyard (or County). So a few weeks ago, in what Cornwall would term “out of season”, I headed for the coastal village of Gorran Haven.

Gorran Haven is just a few miles around the coast from where I live and very close to the neighbouring harbour town of Mevagissey. Gorran Haven is much more sleepy, quaint and unspoilt than many other small coastal villages in Cornwall. I did visit during the Winter, which meant it was very peaceful. The car park is great, you can’t miss it & from there you just walk down the hill to the sea. Gorran Haven was a very busy and important fishing port from the 12th century right up until the 19th century. It was known for its pilchards, crabs and lobsters, but now the harbour has very few commercial fisherman and more holidaymakers.

This small village has a beautiful beach, its sandy shoreline and cove make it protected from the wind and a popular swimming spot. Even in the winter, you will see local residents taking a dip & wild swimming has had such a resurgence over the past few years. Although I do like to swim in the sea, I am not brave enough to go in when it is cold outside.

We visited on a bright, but chilly day and just had a lovely stroll up and down the tiny streets, and along the beach. Apart from the village Post Office, which also sells tea & cake, there was nothing else open. Not even the chip shop, that is the problem with Cornwall in the Winter, so many businesses and amenities either close fully until the end of March or they open for only a short time. If they were open, there is a café on the beach called Mermaid Café and The Beachcomber Café just on the hill overlooking the beach.  The Beachcomber Café used to be a boat building shed, and the Mermaid Café used to be in part, The Ship Inn Pub.

There are so many lovely traditional Cornish cottages in this village & so much history down every street. The whitewashed cottages with pretty painted doors and windows are my favourite. They always look so quaint and homely. When I visited the streets were so quiet, and it is not a village that has a lot of traffic, with the streets being so narrow it is almost impossible to get a car through. So it means it is peaceful and the perfect place to soak in the sea air and enjoy the views.

I am sure if you visited from April – October the cafés and shops would be open, and there would be a little more hustle and bustle. I must admit that I like going during the “off season” as it feels calm, and you get time to yourself, so you can amble up and down the deserted streets. On the way home, we did stop into the larger harbour town of Mevagissey, which is only a few miles from Gorran Haven. It is somewhere that is well worth a visit. It has more amenities and I took quite a few photos, so make sure to keep an eye out for a post all about another pretty fishing town.