The most bombed hotel in the world

The Europa Hotel is a four-star hotel in Great Victoria Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has hosted presidents, prime ministers and celebrities, including President Bill Clinton during his visits to Belfast in 1995 and 1998.

It is known as the "most bombed hotel in Europe" and the "most bombed hotel in the world" after having suffered 28 bomb attacks during the Troubles.

It opened in July 1971 and was built on the site of the former Great Northern Railway station. The architects were Sydney Kaye, Eric Firkin & Partners and the building height was 51 metres. During the Troubles, the hotel, where most journalists covering the Troubles stayed, was known as Europe?s most bombed hotel, earning the name ?the Hardboard Hotel?. The hotel was blown up by the Provisional IRA in 1993 and damaged so badly that it sold for only £4.4m.

The Europa Hotel became part of the Hastings Hotels group on 3 August 1993, whereupon it was announced that it would close for the first time in its 22-year history to allow for major refurbishment. Following an £8m investment, the hotel reopened in February 1994, the first official event being the Flax Trust Ball, a gala evening for 500 local and international dignitaries. President Clinton and First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton stayed in the hotel in November 1995. The presidential entourage booked 110 rooms at the hotel. The suite used by the Clintons was subsequently renamed the Clinton Suite.

Started in early 2008, an extension to the hotel increased the height of a rear wing of the hotel by seven floors to twelve and increased bedrooms from 240 to 272. The extension was designed by Robinson McIlwaine Architects and was completed late in 2008