Inner west’s Imperial crown jewel still missing
Construction delays have now kept the Imperial Hotel closed for a year after its intended reopening.
Unfortunately the venue -” still Sydney’s most famous gay bar -” hasn’t been confirmed to reopen in time for Mardi Gras.
The absence of the Imperial and Newtown hotels this New Year’s Eve, for the second consecutive year, was acutely felt by many inner-west community members who expressed their frustration online.
What’s happening?! When, oh, when? one user wrote on the Friends of the Imperial Hotel Facebook group after it was apparent the venue would not be ready in time for New Year’s Eve.
I was walking past the Imperial last week, the door was open and it still looks like a fair bit of work is still going on, appeared on another Imperial Hotel Facebook group.
The hotel’s management declined to give any further details when asked this week.
Excitement that TransFusion party could be held at the Imperial was dashed at the end of last year when the venue still wasn’t ready and the event was moved to Arq.
Meanwhile, dozens of former patrons from across the country contributed to the wall of appreciation for the venue.
The Impy is a gay institution at this stage and should never close. Sydney isn’t complete without it.
I have missed the Imperial (as we all have) since it closed to renovate. What I am not liking right now is all this speculation as to when it will reopen. I have friends that met with the owner about 2 weeks back. The answer from them was 6-10 weeks.
How difficult is it to get a proper answer. It’s been long enough and the inner west needs it’s venues back!
Lets get an answer?!?….please
I will be coming to Sydney for the World Masters Games next October. If there is no Imperial Hotel for me to visit I will feel as if the trip has been largely wasted.
I can appreciate how much many people miss this great venue. It is certainly unique in terms if its offering.
In relation to the owner not being fussed as to when the venue re opens I would think this is highly unlikely given that the Imperial would also cost a fortune to ‘not’ have it open.
At the end of the day it would be good to know where things are at so that in need the GLBT community can further support the owner to get things moving faster than it currently appears to be.
I think the owners name is Chad and so Chad if you get to read this message please let us know where things are at.
Cheers
The Barmen at Shift said that it will be opening in May (he had such a great smile)
Id love for this place to re open, it was my first gay place I went to at 17!, what I liked about this place was that ALL types (within the subcultures within our community the leather men, bears, twinks etc) all came together, the atmosphere was terrific.
I have to wonder though, perhaps the owner isn’t paying too much focus on re opening it, I mean doesn’t he own Arq and some other place?? – he would be making a stack with Arq on its own!
It also appaears that there is no longer a web-site for the Imperial that is active? The outside still looks the same as well. I’d be interested to know if there been any further developments in regards to the Newtown Hotel? My guess is it will soon become retail space and vanish like the Albury behind a PUMA WALL!