The Imperial

Address: 16 Kendal Street, Cowra, NSW 2794

Telephone: 02 6341 2588

Open Hours
Lunch: Mon - Sun 12pm - 2pm

Dinner:  Tue - Sat from 6pm

Sunday brunch from 10am.

No Pokies? No TAB? A larger than life statue of Elvis Presley in one corner of the main bar? How can you not love a place like that?  Welcome to the Imperial. Featured in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Pub guide 2011.  Choose from a range of great Australian favourites including pastas, yummy soups, steaks, pizza, daily roast dinners, quiches, salads, battered fish and chips, wraps and schnitzels. 

History

The Imperial Hotel is part of a complex that forms a significant presence on the Kendal Street streetscape. It has a continued association with the hospitality industry in Cowra since 1905. The archaeological remains in the stables area has the potential to reveal important information about facilities provided for travellers at the turn of the 19th Century.

In 1904, Irish iron-ore miner John Connolly purchased the store at No 20 Kendal Street, originally built by Stephen Alford in 1861 and commenced building 'The Imperial Hotel Buildings'. Second of this group of three and the largest was the Imperial Hotel and third was No. 22-26 Kendal Street, when, on completion, the front section was leased to the Australian Joint Stock Bank. The ornate timber double storey verandah in stepped form was carried across to visually unite all three buildings. The hotel was completed in 1905  and contained 50 rooms. It was of three storeys and had a 10 stall brick stable amongst the required outbuildings. The cost was over four thousand pounds. Internal fittings including the bar were purchased from the Royal Hotel Sydney.  In 1955 the council ordered the verandah be demolished. The pub has since gone through extensive refurbishment and modernisation.