The Imperial Hotel
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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imperial hotel
Went there last Sunday 2 days after there opening day on Friday after long refurbishment for 3 years. Out front bar still the same color of painting but the inside of the hotel is impressing enough to chill out and have a pickaboo at the back part which was closed when I was there but overall nice hotel/bar/club. DTE crowds of innerwestie not like oxford crowds. Will be there again this weekend for sure.
First to Review
Promsies, promises
Although the new, renovated club has not reopened, those of us who remember when the Impy was one of the best spots in Sydney think the owner of this institution, Shadd Danes (also owner of the aging ARQ and The Sly Fox), has frankly generated enormous animosity amongst the clientele he seeks to attract. The Imperial closed in September of 2007 for "four to six months" of renovations. Constant claims that he's been hampered by Council and local residents simply don't add up, and he has positioned himself as a victim of homophobia to mask his cost overruns, mismanagement and his own ego. Now the promises of a fourth of September opening (about the sixth or seventh announcement in the three years) will be a big test as to whether the wait has been truly worth it. One thing's for certain: the glossy makeover means that it will NOT be the Impy of old and its former clientele will probably not be pleased. The lights are on, the bottle are full and the drag queens are ready to perform. But so far, the doors are still closed.