This venue features three bars in one--cabaret, cellar, and Priscilla. The Imperial is a great location to visit if you want to catch a drag show, just be warned that this is a popular bar, so it's usually pretty packed. The opening scenes of the movie "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," were shot on location.
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Rude.
So, Friday night, my friend and I went to check out The Imperial for the start of our adventure. We get there and a drag queen is performing and we have a great time singing along. Then my friend pulls out her phone to Snapchat the fun we are having to our other friends so they can come and join, but then the drag queen comes and takes her phone off of her and starts to tease her, by now everyone in the room is cussing at my friend telling her to sit down or leave. My friend plays along with the drag queen singing and dancing her way over to him to get her phone back, the drag queen then proceeds to tell her she's disrespectful and all sorts. He purposely bullied and victimized her in front of many, thus ruining our night out. Would not recommend as the drag queen performing on Friday nights bullies for attention during his show.
The best night 'OUT' now in Sydney - NO CONTEST
25th May 2015: For the best night 'OUT' in Sydney The Imperial Hotel, 35 Erskineville Road (cnr Union St.) Erskineville Sydney, NSW 2043 - No Contest! Fell in love with this venue - for me the best night 'OUT' now in Sydney - NO CONTEST - Found via a Time Out recommend - Friday 22nd May (MEANWHILE ft. YOLANDA BE COOL // SPICE CELLAR ERSKNVL (VIVID) - loved so much went again on 23rd May - leaving 7.30am Sunday morning then back for my 3rd visit in the afternoon! - Ironic this iconic venue famous for the opening & closing scenes from "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" has benefited from the draconian 1.30am lockouts imposed last year ( 2014 ) in the traditional party zones of Kings Cross, George Street and Darlinghurst. Erskineville lies outside the lockout zone. This venue is a cab ride from the city but trust me you will not be disappointed - I would give my right arm to have a club like this in London! Only recently in April did top DJ's descend on the venue all displaced by the lockout which has crippled venues, some have already closed, and even the cab trade is suffering. Is this venue GAY - STR8? No! This is how EVERY club should be, a perfect cross-over of ALL sexualities - terrific drag shows at street level and fab disco soul funk themes in two rooms, then the vast basement club with state of the art lighting & sound offering a very different music vibe - I just love the mix. Met so many fab people, just loved the crowd - gay/str8/trans - whatever - no attitude - perfect! Lovely staff, friendly security, plenty of comfy seating - DJ's out of this world - what more could YOU ask for? This venue is the reason I am so coming back next year for Mardi Gras - I do hope you manage to organize a float, that would be awesome! and don't forget to include Priscilla!
This place couldn't manage a fart..
Walked in sober, used the restrooms, had a smoke outside upstairs, came down to order a drink and we were then kicked out for "giving the bar staff a hard time and that management wanted us gone" ...... All we said to the people at the bar was "can I please get two Carltons". We did not swear or make a scene when asked to leave, then noticed they were kicking a lot of others out for no reason too. I suggest if you can't control numbers in your club, you're in the wrong profession. The law is that you must move 50metres from the premises and we were well away from the red zone. Security then came up to us and tried to intimidate us to keep moving.... Such dodgy business especially on Mardi Gra. First time there and won't be back. We ended up finding a cute little bar down the road with a really down to earth bartender. Imperial could have easily got our money that night, but so glad our money went somewhere else.
Lots Of Fun
My friends and I stumbled into this place by accident at happy hour,and it turned out to be a happy accident. Three floors with a fun crowd and a great staff. The drinks were strong and the boys smoking' hot. Needless to say a good time and two staff members was had by all.