This year the Europa Hotel celebrates its 40th birthday, which given its turbulent history is quite an achievement.

Following the success of their fly on the wall documentary series “Lobby Lives” Waddell Media were commissioned by the BBC to make a one hour documentary about the history of this infamous hotel. From the glitz and glamour of the Penthouse Bar with its famous Penthouse Poppets, through all the bombs and threatened closures, to its position today as one of Northern Ireland's best known and loved hotels.

The programme will be shown on 26 September 2011 at 10.35pm on BBC NI

Once known as “The Hardboard Hotel” and the most bombed hotel in the world, the Europa story runs much deeper than that. Certainly for a long time it was the only option for musicians on tour, or actors appearing at the Opera House next door. President Bill Clinton famously stayed in 1995, choosing the city centre Europa over the more sedate (and secure) Hillsborough Castle. A whopping 110 hotel rooms were used to accommodate his entourage.

Brad Pitt famously stayed here, hanging out in disguise in the lobby in order to research the Belfast accent for his role in The Devil’s Own and Julia Roberts secretly checked in with lover Jason Patric while she was still dating Kiefer Sutherland. She wasn’t there long before the press rumbled her.

Among all the glitz and glamour though is the darker story of The Troubles. The hotel became the hangout of the world's press with many famous journalists cutting their teeth and living there during the troubles. Amazingly despite all the chaos going on outside, the Hotel only closed its doors twice.

 

Executive Producer Jannine Waddell
Executive Producer for the BBC Deirdre Devlin
Produced and Directed by Richard Weller