Imperial Hotel, Barrow-in-Furness Imperial Hotel, Barrow-in-Furness The Imperial Hotel (formerly "Hotel Imperial") located on Cornwallis Street in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England is a 4-star Grade II listed hotel built in 1875. The iconic five storey building was designed by architect Thomas Bennet and, like many Barrow buildings, constructed of red brick and sandstone. Other notable features of the building are the balcony located directly above the main entrance and the two decorative lamps standing in front of the hotel, which are also Grade II listed. The hotel underwent a £1 million renovation in 2012 by businessman Stuart Bowes, owner of the nearby Majestic Hotel.
Imperial Bedrooms novel picks up on many aspects of the early 21st-century culture, such as Internet viral videos which depict executions. The novel reflects how technology changes the nature of interpersonal relationships. Additionally, Clay is text-stalked throughout the book; Ellis himself had been "text-stalked" before in real life. Ellis feels this was an unconscious exploration of the dynamics brought on by the new technology. The author also predicts that "fans of "Less Than Zero"" may "feel betrayed"; "Imperial Bedrooms" thrust is its "narrative... of exploitation". One reviewer describes the novel's "central theme" as "Hollywood is an industry town running on exploitation", and