Some seemingly good news has arisen amongst the throngs of conservative LGBT hate that seems to be following us around lately: the Imperial is set to reopen. But scratch beneath the surface and maybe this isn’t the good news we were all hoping for.
You’re probably aware that the iconic Erskineville pub has been bought by the owners of the Rose of Australia, the Morrison, and the Watsons Bay Hotel, for a tidy $6.5 million. One of the first things the new owners intend on doing is installing a kitchen.
A kitchen may not sound like a dreaded evil, but it points to a broader trend of forcing queers to normalise, to enjoy themselves on ‘our’ terms – those being mainstream, ‘normal’ modes of leisure.
One of the new owners, Fraser Short, practically said as much, telling the Sydney Morning Herald: “I don’t think gentrification has to be moving away from the old. Gentrification can be embracing the old and encouraging a demographic to enjoy it in a different sort of ambience.”
“Encouraging a demographic to enjoy it in a different sort of ambience” is a sugar-coated way of saying, “We don’t like that you wanted to party until 4am, so instead we’re going to take your venue, turn it into something you didn’t want, and pretend like you still like it because of its history.”
The Imperial was one of the last late-night venues in the Inner West, and the last with a truly queer vibe. By turning it into a ‘high-end’ restaurant, you’re telling people who go to the pub that they should be enjoying casual dining with friends, rather than dancing themselves into a sweaty mess to pounding bass until dawn. You’re policing people’s leisure activities, as though the existing police presence at the Imperial wasn’t enough.
This is the symbol of gentrification. Queers and creatives develop a place into somewhere desirable to be, yuppies move in because it’s desirable, then complain about the noise. The police, happy to regulate whenever they get the chance, side with the yuppies, and soon, the only form of acceptable entertainment in the Inner West is an $18 burger, an $18 cocktail and an $8 (cheap) beer.
The queers and creatives get forced out of their neighbourhood, and it becomes bland. The yuppies wonder what happened, but are pleased they can finally get to sleep at night because the pub across the road now shuts at 12.
They wonder why it’s so bland, but it’s because they’re so bland.
Turning the Imperial into a restaurant is the knife in the heart of Newtown’s queer community. Yes, the new owners have promised to consult with LGBTI groups, and the willingness to abide by the voluntary 3am lockouts at least partly suggests they intend to still be open late, but I’m hesitant.
With which LGBTI groups will they consult? Certainly a lot of (probably white, probably cisgender) members of the LGB community happily contribute to the growing gentrification of the area, and are all too happy to forget the other members of their community while they look up primary schools for their kids to attend. They’ll probably love seeing the pub turned into Erskineville’s answer to the Henson.
Because late-night entertainment is still by and large viewed as a scourge on our society (’sup, lockout laws), those who enjoy it (safely and healthily) are unfairly marginalised by those who work 9-5 and are in bed by 10pm. I hope the late-night community is consulted with regards to the Imperial’s redesign, but a willingness to keep locals (who will enjoy that ‘high-end’ dining) onside makes me doubtful.
I wonder if I’ve already emerged to my last sunrise on Erskineville Road. It came too soon.
This Week…
Goodgod is where you need to be this Friday September 11, because Girlthingis turning seven. In the front bar will be a uniquely queer dance party, #SASSLIFE, featuring Hip Hop Hoe, Cache One and Vibe Positive. Over in the back will be the regular Girlthing vibes, with Keyes and Girlthing DJs.Happy birthday GT!
The Sydney Roller Derby League is hosting its 2015 grand final on Saturday September 12 at the Big Top, Luna Park. See the Black Widows face off against Team Lumberjack.
One for the diary: on the Labour Day long weekend, my favourites House Of Mince, Homosocial and Girlthingare teaming up to bring us Werk. A huge lineup, including DJ Kiti, Magda Bytnerowicz, Kate Doherty, Black Vanilla (DJ set) and Luen, is converging on Manning Bar on Sunday October 4 for a day of festivities. Earlybird tickets are on sale now so snap them up.
[Luen photo By Charlie Romeo Brophy]
