We visited the Imperial for a function and took the opportunity to stay for the weekend. Bearing in mind this was out of season, the Hotel was fresh and clean. The staff were really first class, nothing was too much trouble. The award winning restaurant really lived up to its reputation not only for the function but for the other meals which we ate there. The roast belly pork melted in the mouth! We have rarely seen such a choice of dishes for breakfast in the UK, all we had were freshly prepared. The kippers were enormous!
The room which we had was exceptionally clean and large (especially the bathroom). We were on the third floor and the single lift was an interesting piece of engineering but worked efficiently when the doors were properly closed! There was plenty of parking space.
If you did not mind looking at a wind farm, the hotel had a great sea views and the beach was just across the road. There was a fair walk into town but we would guess that during the season this might be an advantage if you wanted something quiet to return to.
We paid the function rate which really was great value for money.
One down side was a lack of real ale that weekend.
We will be going back.

My husband and I stayed for a long weekend in November, going up for Great Yarmouth Lions annual Charter dinner at the hotel on the Friday evening. The hotel is easy to find, right on the sea front with its own large car park.
The check in was quick and friendly. We were given room 239 on the 2nd floor. The lift is geriatric, but works really well.
The room was a large double, with an en-suite bathroom with big bath and power shower. The towels were huge and really fluffy. The best hotel towels we've ever had and we've been to many uk and foreign hotels. Our room had a full size bunk bed in the adjoining room next door, perfect for a family, they even had their own tv! As there were just the two of us we didn't need this room!
We had a sea view, which, had it been summer would have been perfect. Straight off the beach and into your room.
The hotel had been recently refurbished and although the furniture was old it added to the Victorian ambience. Everywhere was spotlessly clean. The maids were waiting for us each morning to clean our room!
The breakfasts were nice, although you needed a strong stomach as the smell of fresh fish hit you first thing in the morning in the dining room as haddock and kippers were on menu. Not being big breakfast eaters we had porridge and toast which was nice. English breakfasts were also available if you wanted them along with tea or coffee. All served by friendly, helpful waiters and waitresses.
We ate Saturday night in the hotels newly re-opened restaurant the Cru. The food was great, I had a vegetarian rissotto, not that I'm a vegetarian but it sounded so nice. Two course dinner with soft drinks came to £40. I thought that was reasonable.
The hotel is a 5 minute flat walk from Britannia Pier and 10 minute flat walk to the town centre. Its perfectly positioned for a family holiday in Great Yarmouth or a weekends romantic get away. If you've already booked you will love it. If thinking about it go, you wont regret it.

My wife and I stayed one night after my daughters wedding reception and thoroughly enjoyed our overnight and breakfast. The Imperial is comfortably appointed, clean and well cared for. The staff are helpful and friendly. The room (at north end, side sea view) was a bit on the small side but everything was there, with an ingenious way to put the tea tray out of sight when not in use! The bed was comfortable, and the bathroom was fine too with complimentary toiletries.
Breakfast was excellent with plenty of choice. We both had the smoked haddock with poached eggs and it was perfectly cooked. The tea and toast just kept coming too (just ask)! Lovely sun shone into the breakfast room overlooking the seafront.
It would normally be too expensive for us but we got a special deal because we were with the wedding party (which took up 19 rooms all told!). Would love to stay again, if I could get another deal!

It's great sometimes to just remind ourselves of the definition of the word "hotel". If you wanted to, you could find fault with anywhere you choose to stay, but this place gives you old fashioned graft to keep the punters happy from the outset. All staff in hotel uniform and glad to oblige, and being a Victorian sea side hostelry, you get creaking floorboards, dark furniture, lots of corridors that wind their way here and there, steep stairs and the feeling that Vincent Price could turn up serving behind one of the bars at any given moment. But I defy anyone to find anything bad to say about this old gaff. Sure it could do with a makeover, but that would take all of the character away. The food is better here than a lot of more expensive hotels, and all of the staff I spoke to were natives from the local area ( am I allowed to say that ? ) So if you want good food , comfy beds , bars open 'til late and dated decor you could do much worse.