Sydney icon The Imperial to be mixed but gay events “core” to its offering, say new owners

Sydney icon The Imperial to be mixed but gay events “core” to its offering, say new owners
Image: The Imperial Hotel (PHOTO: Ann-Marie Calilhanna; Star Observer)

THE new owners of iconic inner west Sydney’s gay-friendly bar The Imperial Hotel have exclusively told the Star Observer that LGBTI events will continue to form a “core part” of the pub’s offering despite concerns the focus may now be on straight clubbers.

Spice Group International (SGI), who will take over from late April 2015, said the Harbour City Bears and Melbourne gay party TroughX were already booked in for an event in early May.

The Imperial’s likely sale was first revealed in the Star Observer earlier this year.

As well as moving the Spice Cellar club – which bills itself as “unique, European and underground,” – into the Erskineville venue, SGI is also promising a refit of The Imperial, which was made famous by seminal queer Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Founder of SGI, Murat Kilic, said the new owners would adopt a “staged approach” to any changes.

“When we first go into the project, there won’t be any monumental changes, but more so refinements of product offerings, better sound systems and striking entertainment throughout the venue,” said Kilic, who also DJs at Spice Cellar.

He added that each space would be given a makeover “without compromising the existing art deco character and heritage bones of the building”.

The front bar – rechristened The Imperial Bar – is to become a “casual and accessible social hub” under the eye of Erskineville local Mike McGarth who was most recently at Redfern small bar Black Penny.

Meanwhile, the Priscilla Bar becomes The Lounge, and Spice Cellar itself will take up residence downstairs.

Asked about concerns the venue will no longer cater to an LGBTI crowd, Kilic confirmed to the Star Observer that The Imperial would be “mixed” but highlighted that was the case currently.

“The venue already has a mixed crowd and we want to embrace the ideas of culture, community and diversity,” he said.

“By curating a mixed program of events and an open-minded door policy, the Imperial will become a melting pot of diversity and reunite with its illustrious past as a place for the people – no prejudice, striking world class entertainment and good honest fun.”

Kilic also promised the pub would feature specific LGBTI content: “LGBTI events will form a core part of the ongoing entertainment roster with Jonny Seymour from Kooky acting as the cultural ambassador for the venue.”

A Sunday social each week with DJs on rotation will also be curated, and although Kilic wouldn’t commit to a refreshed Priscilla show, he said drag is on the menu.

“Wednesday nights in the Lounge will be dedicated to weekly live cabaret and drag although there will be spot performances at the venue over the weekend as well to continue the Sydney tradition,” he said.

While it was a “common assumption” the controversial lockouts were a key factor behind Spice Cellar’s move from Sydney’s CBD to the inner west, Kilic said the club simply needed a bigger venue.

“Since its inception in 2004, the clubbing brand Spice has changed venues nine times, with evolution and change being a core part of the growth,” he said.

“The Imperial Hotel Erskineville provides the perfect location for the next chapter.”

The new management said staff numbers were being expanded and a “hybrid of staff from the Spice Cellar and The Imperial Hotel” would work at the venue, but they did not rule out some existing staff leaving the organisation.

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48 responses to “Sydney icon The Imperial to be mixed but gay events “core” to its offering, say new owners”

  1. So what the hell happened? What the hell happened to our venue? Places like the Imperial Hotel are needed by the GLBTQI Community and you have right royally stuffed it up. So thanks for nothing. Lets go back to the imperial being a predominantly gay venue.

  2. I do of course agree that security needs to be in place for backward homophobes…however when it comes to bars that support gay community. through exclusivity ..even us straight folk have a right to show our support and as a single chick I find these venues much safer and friendly and interactive than macho bars and reverse prejudice isn’t the answer….maybe I’m reading the article wrong???? ha ha xx

    • Janna,
      Noone is saying that as a straight, single female you have no rights to go to a gay bar because you feel safer and its friendly. Its just that straight, homophobic males have cottoned onto what you straight single ladies are doing and these males attend gay venues to try and pick you up.

      However, the trouble starts when the straight men are approached by gay men (the reason why the club is there in the first place; for gay people to meet in their own environment) and react violently to their advances. That’s where there are issues.

  3. We’re all in this together so any form of segregation is a backward step so I applaud anything that takes sexuality out of the equation and simply celebrates individuals whatever their choice in life..

  4. Well the concern I have is this is just a means to bring in a profit rather than a real support for a venue for the GLTBI community? We will see I guess

  5. Guys everyone’s complaining about the gay bars becoming straight but Gay bars need the support of gay customers otherwise they close simple as that. All that been said I will be sorry to see it go hopefully the liberal attitude of the inner west will mean the bar keeps some colour

  6. Such a shame. All the same things were said about the Newtown Hotel … Now we are loosing the Imperial too….Is it just me or is this pretty much the end of LGBT pubs in Sydney??

  7. I think about time we need a decent venue inner west. I have been going for years obvious the owners don’t give a dam .. At least sold to someone decent.. I hope they keep the day manager she always friendly willing to listen about my crap day ..

  8. Agree with above responses, bar and security staff have shown extreme and blatant rude behaviour and unwelcoming to GLBTQI folk that have frequented the venue for years. It is no longer a welcoming safe space to play. Perhaps the new owners could look at educating bar staff and security staff.

    xoxoxo

  9. The Imperial apart from the Cellar Bar has been a poor excuse for a bar for a long time.
    Fine, if you want a gay bar run it for the 21st century not some poor RSL club relative.
    I have worked with Murat in previous venues and he is not patronizing and has his finger on the pulse of what people want.
    Some people will be unhappy for sure but this is really what Sydney and the Inner West needs. Don’t judge before you see what he and his staff will do.
    Hopefully the pollies don’t want to turn the inner west into a lock out area too then it will be fabulous!!

  10. After being refused entry the other week its clear the security have been given direction on just how ‘mixed’ they want the venue to be.. #80%straight…its sad but its the end of The Imperial as we knew it – I wont be back as I am clearly not mixed enough !!!

    • He wouldn’t give us a valid reason, and when I asked to speak with the manager and waiting half an hour out the front it was clear that the manager on duty was never going to come out and address the issue so we gave up. I’ve had other friends who have received the same treatment in the last few weeks. The door on that venue has shut for me but I’m grateful to have experienced the best years….
      I can move on just as they have…..

  11. Thank god for the The Spice Cellar … Quality choons… unlike the commercial crap forced down your throats at every gay bar..

  12. when i was young i use to go to clubs and bars in a small queensland town as a closeted gay man,when the alcohol started to affect me,my inner me use to come out,and i would be in all sorts of trouble,so after the 10th or 20th beating in straight bars,yes,thats what they were,i saw the sydney mardi gras on my bedroom tv,and decided at 26 to move to sydney,it started off quite barren,and lonely,but after a while i started to find men who were like myself,and bars i was accepted in.never going to straight bars,just,my own bars.turning these bars into mixed or pretend gay bars is bordering on straight,sorry,this IS the experience of a lot of young men,or women all over this country,they look at sydney as where they belong,and they move here,treating it as nothing wrong with being mixed,is deluding yourself.just wait till you see a young man or woman being abused by straights in a gay bar and you will see the decline of the gay community in inner sydney.

    • Sorry but these days you can go to a “straight” bar/nightclub being gay and not get hassled at all. I’ve been to nightclubs in Melbourne where they are supposed to be the most homophobic crowd and made out with my partner on the dance floor and no one gave a shit. No once cares anymore in Australia.

    • “No one cares anymore in Australia”?, that is completely misleading and grossly inaccurate. Travel outside the gay enclaves and cities and see how well acceptance has spread, people care, trust me.

    • I’d like to think that we have progressed since then. IM sorry you were hurt and were made to feel like an outsider in straight venues….but if straight people come to a historically gay bar then they must realise most people there will be gay right? i mean……I have more straight friends than i do gay, I personally feel more excluded from my own community than i do the straight one. So if i want to go to a bar with my mates and have a drink…..why the fuck not. Also, i’m drunk so who knows….weeee

  13. Hopefully the new owners will look at some of the bar staff! I no longer frequent this venue due to the inexcusable rudness of some (not all) of the bar staff.