and brick red detail. This serpentine outdoor staircase was installed for The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury in 1894. As in the twentieth-century, many of the rooms have been turned into public tea rooms or are available to be reserved for private functions. Restoration Belfast Castle was closed in 1978 for a restoration and refurbishing effort. The architecture partnership of Hewitt and Haslam oversaw and carried out the over £2 million project, with the castle and demesne reopening on Armistice Day, 11 November 1988. Since then, it has once again become a popular spot for weddings and other celebrations as well as for business meetings. Another example of events held at the castle was the 2015 Belfast Castle Hospice Walk, held by the Northern Ireland Hospice to benefit local charities and those living with terminal illnesses. The castle underwent another round of refurbishment in May 2003. References Buildings and structures in Belfast Parks in Belfast Gardens in Belfast Castles in County Antrim Scottish baronial architecture Gothic Revival architecture in Northern Ireland Tourist attractions in Belfast Grade B+ listed buildings Register of Parks, Gardens and Demesnes of Special Historic Interest