Three Down, One Up. Imperial Sets Re-opening Date

The Imperial Hotel will be open by the end of November, owner Shadd Danesi has guaranteed — irrespective of the outcome of his court case against the City of Sydney.
Residents, City of Sydney representatives and officials from the Land and Environment Court met with Danesi yesterday morning at the Erskineville pub site to discuss its future.

Danesi has for months been petitioning for the council to increase his capacity limit from 442 to 788 patrons.

The Land and Environment Court will now deliberate on the matter, but Danesi has said the venue will have to open soon, irrespective of the verdict. Danesi hopes to reopen the iconic venue in late October/early November.

The meeting came as the gay and lesbian community loses a raft of other venues. The Flinders has been sold to a group of buyers who are expected to close the venue for renovations. The Midnight Shift has also closed its upstairs section for a series of renovations, and the owners of the Clarence last week announced an end to Manacle.

Oxford St Turned Straight?

This week an article in the Daily Telegraph declared that ‘Oxford Street is straight’, with ‘straight’ venues outnumbering the gay ones. The strip, once the 'glitter mile' has certainly changed in recent years.

The internet is blamed for taking away some of the 'oomph' of the strip. This has been compounded by the scene, now with straight girls aplenty, attracting the straight boys, and homophobic violence and aggression on Oxford Street on the increase

New gay pockets have emerged from the ashes. with the opening of the Clarence Hotel in the inner west and alternative nights occering in the region also, such as BadDog, Kooky or Scooter.

Whilst the internet has had an impact on Gay Sydney, the scene continues to evolve.

Many beg for the return to a 'community feel' to the scene, with a cold shoulder given to the corporatisation of Mardi Gras and a more community-minded approach.

Maybe the GFC will have a positive effect on the scene after all. Maybe something good can come of the recent downturn. Here's hoping.