Sydney's Imperial Hotel Sells In Multimillion-Dollar Deal

It's not been the smoothest of sailing for historic and culturally significant Sydney venue The Imperial Hotel, given the premises have suffered not one but two 72-hour orders to close by the Office Of Liquor, Gaming and Racing in recent months, but things could be turning around at last with the news that the Imperial has sold to new owners for an impressive $6.5 million.

As Fairfax reports, the famously LGBTIQ-friendly pub has been kept closed of late by its former owner Shadd Danesi in the wake of the orders, and will reopen in "a new direction" under the guidance of new owners Scott Leach — the president of the NSW branch of the Australian Hotels Association — and Fraser Short, who runs the Rose Of Erskineville hotel as well as The Morrison in the city's CBD and Byron Bay's Balcony Bar & Restaurant.

The Imperial's recent woes started following the leasing of space to Spice International — and its consequent Spice Cellar ERSKNVL club nights — resulting in the police raids; the first in June, under suspicion of employees using illegal drugs, and the second in July, "after inspectors observed several breaches of the Liquor Act, including a male patron seen licking spilt alcohol off the floor", according to Fairfax.

"We have stepped up because we are passionate about its future," Short told LGBTIQ mag SX, highlighting a plan to inject $3 million into the business for renovation purposes.

“We recognise the Imperial’s importance to the LGBTIQ community and we will be reaching out to the community in coming months as we try to create something unique and special with the venue, whilst acknowledging its LGBTIQ heritage," he said.

"It will remain shut in the short term but we are injecting funds immediately to start creating a modern food and beverage option for the venue. This will include the introduction of a custom kitchen and high-end restaurant business to meet the local community demand."