Erskineville’s The Imperial Hotel, made famous by film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, being restored to former entertainment glory by new owners

Erskineville’s iconic The Imperial Hotel — which played a starring role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert — is getting a refresh. And it’s more inclusive than ever.

Lada Marks, Rosie the dog, and Etcetera Etcetra, at The Imperial Erskineville. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A new owner is hoping to restore iconic Sydney pub The Imperial in Erskineville, which featured in the hit film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, to its former glory.

Universal Hotels, which owns the Bat and Ball in Redfern and Crown Hotel in Surry Hills bought the famous LGBTQIA+ venue from owners Fraser Short and Scott Leach, president of the Australian Hotels Association of NSW, for $20 million in the middle of the year.

The biggest changes The Kospetas family have made to the three-level hotel is to the entertainment line-up.

While the pub has become famous for it’s drag shows and it’s “Drag & Dine” experience, there is now a show dedicated to the Guy Pearce film which put the hotel on the map.

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Etcetera — aka Oliver Levi-Malouf — is the Entertainment Manager for the venue, and has created a Saturday night show, The Priscilla Experience, which includes lavish costumes and performances by Lada Marks, Sia Tequila, and Aunty Tamara.

Etcetera Etcetera and Lada Marks at The Imperial Erskineville. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The Imperial Hotel was made famous by the 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

The Imperial was the first place Levi-Malouf performed as Etcetera in 2016.

She said coming back as the Entertainment Manager, as well as performing every Friday night, was a full circle moment.

“The Imperial was the first place I ever did drag. I moved up to Sydney from Canberra and had never met a drag queen or seen one before I stepped into the venue and the minute I did, I thought, this could be for me.”

“I want to recapture that same feeling I felt that first time for new generation of queer people,” she said, adding the new owners have the resources and finances to make that possible.

The iconic Imperial Hotel. Picture. AAP Image.

“For the queer community, The Imperial represents more than places to eat, drink and dance. It’s our home away from home. It’s our history.”

The Priscilla Experience is just one of many shows The Imperial will host. On any night of the week, there is a free drag show on offer.

“We want these shows to be as accessible as possible,” Etcetera said.

As well as the new drag line up, the Hotel has also made its main bar dog friendly.

While on the rooftop, Sydney’s famed cult Pizza Bros, are now serving up leopard crust pizzas.

A hotel has operated on the site since 1880.

Prior to the Kospectas family buying “The Impy,” Short and Leach purchased the hotel in 2015 for $6.5 million. Around the time, the pub had been temporarily closed due to licencing breaches.