The Europa Hotel

The Most Bombed Hotel in the World.

The Europa Hotel is located on Queen Victoria Street at the Belfast City Centre and stands as a testament to Belfast's refusal to be torn down by the terrible IRA and UVF bombing campaigns during "the troubles". Between the buildings completion in 1971 and the 1990's the hotel was bombed 28 times. However, after every bomb blast, the building was relentlessly restored and back open for business just in time for the next attack. During the worst periods of the troubles, the hotel acted primarily as a hotel for journalists covering the conflict. The incredible documentary, The Europa Hotel: Bombs, Bullets, and Business as Usual, was recently released by the BBC and tells a fascinating history of the hotel and of Belfast during the conflict.

The hotel is now owned by the Hastings hotels group after years of negotiations and has been renovated into a 4-star hotel. It is one of the tallest structures in the relatively squat city and is a well known monument to anyone who is familiar with Belfast. President Clinton even stayed here during his visit in the mid-1990's.

This building is of particular interest to my stay in Belfast as I attend the weekly Rotary Club of Belfast lunch in the penthouse level of the hotel. The Rotary club has been having their meetings here for decades and endured the numerous unforeseen periods of renovation.