Credit: Supplied
Budget-luxe and design-led hotel and diner brand, Mollie’s, has announced that it will be opening its third and largest site to date in Manchester later this year – and it will be located in a legendary building. Set to transform the Old Granada TV Studios in Manchester, the first purpose-built television studio in the UK, Mollie’s will occupy 100,000sq ft of the 1950s landmark.
Bringing a social hub to the city where people can work, stay, and play, the Manchester location will be Mollie’s first city centre site, following on from their roadside motel-and-diner sites in Oxfordshire and Bristol. Prices start from £120 per night and there will be 128 rooms across five floors, ranging from classic doubles and twins, bunk rooms and interconnecting family, to studios and several luxe suites featuring freestanding bathtubs, walk-in wardrobes and Peloton bikes. The new city motel and diner will share the building with Soho House, a member’s club featuring a rooftop pool opening this October, which will occupy the building’s top three floors.
Credit: Supplied The Old Granada TV Studios have been “imaginatively re-invented”
Designed by architect Ralph Tubbs for Cecil and Sidney Bernstein, the founders of Granada TV, the studios opened back in 1956. According to the hotel brand, the iconic building has been “imaginatively re-invented” in collaboration with Soho House. Mollie’s has preserved the modernist, glass and grey-granite façade and made playful nods to the building’s history, while also working with a series of local Manchester-based artists to create bespoke artworks for the rooms and public spaces.
The studio’s glowing red Granada sign was removed in 2010 and is now housed in Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum. The old sign is replaced by Mollie’s signature playful red neon lettering.
Credit: Supplied What to expect at Mollie’s Motel & Diner in Manchester From dark wood panelling to Dyson Airwraps
The motel rooms at Mollie’s Manchester give a contemporary nod to the building’s architectural heritage with dark wood panelling, terrazzo and aged brass finishes, rainshowers and super king beds. You’ll also find Mollie’s latest technology and renowned touchpoints, including Dyson Airwraps and hairdryers, GHD straighteners, and Cowshed products.
Credit: Supplied Bedrooms designed specifically for Soho House members
On the sixth floor, there are 23 bedrooms designed specifically for Soho House members, ranging from ‘cosy’ rooms to large suites with living space. This floor also includes an 80sqm private apartment with an open plan living room with a kitchenette, dining table, lounge area, and a connecting second bedroom.
Gym opening onto a balcony
The first floor will feature a state-of-the-art gym for Soho House members and Mollie’s guests. This will include a free weights area, studio space, steam room, and sauna, all opening onto a balcony with casual seating.
Credit: Supplied A modern take on the retro-American diner
The ground floor features the classic Soho House-designed Mollie’s diner with 140+ seats and a private dining room. The diner features dark wood, brass finishes, and a mid-century look inspired by the building’s modernist architecture and its roots in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Offering a modern take on the retro-American diner, guests can choose to dine at classic counter seating or relax into luxe leather banquettes inspired by the interior of a vintage Cadillac. There will also be some new dishes on the menu, including salt beef and New Yorker sandwiches, lobster rolls, and a peanut butter and jelly pie.
Credit: Supplied Plenty of work spaces
Also on the ground floor will be a lounge-lobby that combines bar, food-on-the-go, sociable co-working space, and an informal living-room vibe. Plus, guests will find private work spaces featuring meeting rooms and lounges available for exclusive hire.
Live music, VIP bar, snug, and an outdoor heated terrace
Downstairs, Mollie’s large, open-plan cocktail bar with live music and entertainment will be available for guests to enjoy. The space includes a private-hire green room, VIP bar and snug, and an outdoor heated terrace. With music being at the heart of the Old Granada Studios – both the Beatles and the Sex Pistols made their first TV appearances here – Mollie’s aims to celebrate Manchester’s music scene with its own live-stage performance venue.
Credit: Supplied How to book Mollie’s Manchester
Room prices start from £120 per night. Bookings are not yet open, but Mollie’s will open its doors in Manchester in late 2025. You can sign up to hear more about Mollie’s Manchester here.
Where to find Mollie’s Motel & Diner in Manchester
Mollie’s Manchester is part of St John’s neighbourhood, set on the once-industrial quays of the River Irwell, between Castlefield, Spinningfields, and Manchester Central. Deansgate Station, Manchester Opera House, and the Museum of Science and Industry are all within walking distance of the motel and diner.
📍Mollie’s Motel & Diner, Old Granada Studios, Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3GS.