The Imperial Hotel Paddington Sydney

Whilst the retail situation on Oxford St in Sydney is pretty dire at the moment, and it seems that shops are only closing rather than opening, it is great to see that The Imperial Pub, near the Paddington Town Hall part of Oxford St has been recently refurbished and re-opened.

It felt like the site was closed for ages and at times I wondered if it would ever reopen. But it has been worth it as they have taken an old school dingy pub right into 2012. They’ve made it light, fresh and open with a great vibe to attract both Gen Y-ers and young families who still enjoy a catch up at the pub – even if it means bringing the stroller.

What I find particularly impressive is the food menu which is extensive, delicious and reasonably priced (in terms of Sydney prices!). You can also tell that they are trying to attract a local crowd as they are looking to start lots of clubs and events around the pub like running groups and Sunday Roasts. The Sunday roast is pretty good value at $20 and includes a half bottle of wine. This is a smart move as per my previous comment about the failure of retail on this strip at the moment, you can’t rely on passing trade. If this pub is to succeed it will be due to strong local support.

But saying that, don’t think you can’t pay a visit if you are from outside of the Paddington area. This pub is well worth frequenting and I look forward to seeing it evolve over the coming months and wish it the best in these difficult retail times.