Imperial Hotel Erskineville faces community outrage over plans to add beer garden to historic site

Inner city NIMBYs are on the warpath over a Sydney hotel’s $1m expansion plans, claiming the prominent pub’s proposed outdoor beer garden would wreck the area’s “village” vibe.

Inner city NIMBYs are on the warpath over a Sydney hotel’s $1m expansion plans, claiming the prominent pub’s proposed outdoor beer garden would wreck the area’s “village” vibe.

The Imperial Hotel in Erskineville – made famous by the 1995 film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – is facing a torrent of community opposition over its plans to extend the venue’s boundaries by taking over two vacant shops next to the 84-year-old venue, which is licensed to stay open as late as 3am.

Plans for the Imperial Hotel expansion show the works would involve modifying two Victorian-era terrace shops next to the pub with upgraded awnings, shopfronts and an extra entrance.

The development would also have a single-storey wing hosting a beer garden-style seating area in the rear courtyard, creating what the venue’s plans described as “expanded space for recreational activities and social interaction”.

But dozens of residents have taken umbrage at the proposal, with one expressing fears it could “have a big impact on the locals who live and sleep in Erskineville”.

The Imperial Hotel has a $1 million expansion plan in the works.

Their complaints can be revealed on the same day the state government unveiled its plan to stop NIMBYs moving into nightlife hotspots and then killing the vibe by forcing prospective new residents to acknowledge they are looking to enter an area considered an entertainment hub.

The move is the latest in a suite of NSW Government “vibrancy reforms”, which aim to revive Sydney ailing nightlife through measures that include making it easier for venues to offer live music.

An artist’s impression of the venue’s proposed beer garden.

But instead of creating vibrancy, Erskineville resident Kenneth Hickling claimed, in a submission to the City of Sydney Council, the expansion of the Imperial Hotel would lead to disturbances from the “inevitable loud noise and music”.

“It will significantly impact all of those residents for many years to come, and is quite detrimental to the peaceful amenity that those residents deserve to have when they have chosen to live in an area that has always been promoted as a small village,” he wrote.

Another resident claimed the expansion could bring more “noise, anti-social behaviour, trash and more Ubers/taxis to the area”.

There are also concerns the proposal could exacerbate crowd activity, with resident Dennis Ferris saying neighbours already had to endure disturbances from “people drinking”, smoking and leaving “extremely untidy” cigarette butts on footpaths.

“This application is not in keeping with almost everything else that is Erskineville. It would be a different situation if it was located in nearby King St – but it is not,” he said in a submission.

“It’s a no from me.”

The venue wants to take over these two adjacent shops at 39-41 Erskineville Road.

The development plans can be revealed at the same time the state government is considering adding the hotel to the NSW State Heritage Register, ranking it alongside other Sydney icons such as the Harbour Bridge, Central Station and the Anzac Memorial.

The heritage listing would recognise the historic venue. which featured in the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and which has also become known for supporting the LGBTQI community.

The NSW Heritage Council, in a preliminary assessment of the heritage listing, has already found the art-deco pub, built in 1940, is “likely” to be of state heritage significance

The NSW Government is considering granting the venue State Heritage protection status.

The venue’s development plans state the proposed expansion would not include “any direct impact to significant fabric associated with the Imperial Hotel.”.

The proposal would also not include any increase to the overall patron capacity of 990 patrons with a maximum of 406 on the ground floor.

“The proposal enhances the amenities of the Imperial Hotel, supporting its successful operation and continued use as a pub and hotel which has historical significance,” the plans stated.

“The proposal is aligned with the vision of Erskineville Road village centre’s locality as a vibrant community hub and it will support the economic activity of the area fostering more employment opportunities and economic growth.”

Other objections include concerns the development would be “encroaching” into surrounding buildings, which some locals believe could instead “provide housing to people who need it”.

Nearby resident Andrew Gould believes if the proposal is approved, the venue should have strict measures to address potential noise, including soundproofing, restricted operating hours, privacy screens to neighbouring homes, and traffic management measures.

It is not the first battleground planning proposal that has sparked an uprising from Erskineville NIMBYs, who previously kicked up a stink over a plan for a public toilet in the town centre, claiming the loo was likely to attract “vagrants”, prompt “antisocial behaviour” and bring with it “heritage impacts”.

The Imperial Hotel’s owners did not respond to requests for comment.

It only changed hands last year when it was acquired by Sydney pub group Universal Hotels.

The group is operated by the Kospetas family, which also runs venues including the Newtown Hotel, Oxford Hotel, Crown Hotel and Universal in Darlinghurst.