The Europa Hotel: Belfast City Centre Chic

Venues

When it comes to luxury hotels, the B Magazine team is meticulous. To uphold our journalistic integrity, we feel it’s our duty to research everything a hotel has to offer. We sip the bar cocktails to ensure they contain the finest vodka, taste the chef’s culinary delights, and check for pillow-top mattresses. We run a discerning eye over the function rooms and occasionally… if the job calls for it… we will endure a facial or massage. It’s all because we want our readers to know all about the venue. So when we got our invitations to The Europa Hotel in Belfast, we got out our clipboards (i.e. cocktail napkins) and gave it the ol’ B Mag litmus test.

The Europa Hotel is smack dab in the centre of Belfast, literally 50 feet from Great Victoria Station. This makes getting there from almost anywhere in Ireland very easy. The hotel is near shops, restaurants, and a stone’s throw away from City Hall and the Grand Opera House.

After we got over the shock of how easy it was to get to The Europa Hotel, we met with Director Allyson McKimm and General Manager, James McGinn. With years of experience and a keen eye for detail, James has become a powerhouse in the Northern Irish wedding scene. His renowned taste has earned him the title the Franc of the North. Northern brides know that if they want city centre chic…the Europa is the best game in town. After a brief discussion, it was obvious… a wedding at the Europa would not be lacking in personality or style.

Most hotels claim they can cater for any type of wedding… but The Europa Hotel really can! They have two function rooms; The Grand Ballroom which can hold up to 400 and the Penthouse Suite which can hold up to 125. Moreover, both rooms make the most of the Belfast skyline views.

But if the function room wedding isn’t your style, the Europa has something we’ve never seen in another Irish hotel. It’s a massive ground floor room that looks like a New York style loft! It was the last thing I expected as we rounded the corner, but it literally took my breath away. The minimalistic room is a blank canvas where hardwood floors and white walls create the stylish bride’s dream. The room has a private entrance, it’s own bar and connects to the lobby by a corridor (where a red carpet can be put down).   The hotel provides table service and all the standard wedding package items for the room. The possibilities are endless! And it doesn’t stop there. If you are having an intimate wedding, the Europa has the Rotunda, which can hold 30 people.

One of the main dilemmas brides have when it comes to city centre weddings is where to take their photos. So we were delighted to see that The Europa Hotel has a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city and surrounding hills. Europa brides also have many city centre attractions, including the gardens of the nearby City Hall.

The Europa Hotel

We also decided to see how the Europa measured up for another important wedding experience… the hen weekend. Belfast is fast becoming one of the world’s trendiest cities, and all the hotspots are right on the Europa’s luxurious doorstep.

The Europa rooms are modern and spacious. There’s no spa, but residents of the Europa can use the 5 * Culloden Estate and Spa, only 15 minutes away. The Culloden has special packages for the girly weekend including the Spa-tisserie: a 55 minute treatment, morning coffee or afternoon tea, plus sandwiches and finger food.

After a nice pampering session, a relaxing dinner at one of the three Europa eateries is a must. With three options in different price ranges, you’ll find one that suits you and your companions. The Piano Bar Restaurant is the fine dining option at the Europa. The Causerie is the informal restaurant and the Lobby Bar is the casual option for the quick bite to eat. Our advice? Try all three, and whatever you do, don’t miss the famous Europa breakfast!

No girly weekend would be complete without at least one round of cocktails. This is where the Europa seals the deal.  The Piano Bar lounge offers some of the best cocktails in the city, with a buzzing atmosphere and stunning views. There’s the added bonus of only a short lift ride from your very own pillow-top mattress.

We highly recommend the Grey Goose Cosmopolitans (but that’s all we’re saying about that).

Luckily, Belfast brides have many venues to choose from, and the best are right here in our venues directory.