Imperial Hotel has sold

By Jonathon Howard

HE POURED his heart and soul, plus most of his money, into revitalising the Imperial Hotel in Murwillumbah with the idea of rebuilding the iconic site to its former glory.

And what a journey it has been. The now former ‘Impy’ owner Shane Nugent has confirmed he has sold the hotel, with the new owners expected to take over in July.

Mr Nugent’s vision to create a timeless hotel in the heart of the Tweed Valley started in 2019, after fierce bidding for the property, which settled for $835,000.

“I purchased the site from a Sydney-based buyer and had a plan to bring back something special to Murwillumbah from its heyday in the 1930s,” he said.

Mr Nugent spared no expense in his vision and the fit-out, with black and white floor tiles meeting beautiful navy tiles on the walls and the hotel’s initials “IH” embossed in gold.

The finery continues into the bathrooms, with concrete sinks from 1930s household laundries, and king and queen of diamonds stained glass panels on the doors.

“It was a sight to behold for locals and visitors when we opened,” Mr Nugent told The Weekly.

“We’ve had many locals return to the site and they have been blown away by the level of detail and craft put into the building.”

But what Mr Nugent did not expect was the severity of the COVID-19 impact and the red tape he’s faced at the property.

“It was extremely hard to get it over the line,” he said.

“The bureaucracy was such a killer for me and the impacts of coronavirus also placed a great deal of pressure on the business.”

Mr Nugent said he wanted to make sure the business was running well prior to selling.

“It’s in a good place to sell,” he said.

“We have three great commercial tenants, 29 refurbished rooms in the hotel, and a bright future for the site ahead.

“I think the new owners will be happy as I’ve already handled much of the dramas and requirements for council.”

Mr Nugent now plans to work on his own home and reinvest some time with his partner Kian Watson and their dog Loui. He would not reveal the price, but said it was a “good deal” for both parties.

“I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot at the Impy and I wish all the success to the new owners, as they are getting a great platform to grow from,” he said.

Kian is likely to continue working as the hotel’s manager, along with the other staff, pending the final decision from the new owners.

The Weekly will introduce the new owners after they find their feet.