Lissanoure Castle

What Lissanoure Castle does

Lissanoure Castle is a privately-owned historic castle estate venue located on an island site in Loughguile, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, at the foot of the Glens of Antrim. Since 1994, when the 18th-century coach house and stables were converted into the Coach House and Castle Barn function venues, the estate has operated an exclusive-use wedding, party, corporate event, and filming/photography location business under the ownership of the Mackie family (Peter and Emily Mackie in operational control since 2000). The venue enforces a one-event-per-day policy and supports weddings with indoor ceremonies in the Coach House, outdoor ceremonies in a covered walled-garden area, and an on-site All Saints Church at the main entrance that connects to the Castle via a photogenic drive.

The core product offering comprises the Coach House (three reception rooms, fully licensed bar in the Macartney Room, dining room seating up to 100 guests), the Castle Barn (large event space for 100+ guests with stage, dance floor, and bar), and dedicated wedding coordination by Jane Torrens and Sarah Delaney. Beyond events, the estate generates ancillary revenue from four rental properties (The White Lodge, The Rectory Wing, The Rectory, and the Gamekeeper's House), a licensed in-house bar service, and historical filming/photography contracts including BBC and UTV productions. The 6,146-acre estate (acquired by George Macartney in 1733) provides the scenic backdrop and 700+ years of documented history that anchors the venue's premium positioning, including its 2019 Northern Ireland Wedding Venue of the Year award.

The business operates a direct, appointment-based go-to-market motion with no third-party resellers. Pricing is bespoke and quote-only across wedding packages, corporate events, filming, and accommodation; bookings originate from the website, email ([email protected]), telephone (+44 (0) 28 2764 1132), showcase/open afternoons, social media (Instagram/Facebook), and wedding directory referrals (Bridebook, OneFabDay, WeLoveWeddings, Historic Houses Association). Technology stack is minimal: the venue runs on Squarespace CMS with no proprietary platform, no API, and no disclosed automation; operations rely on in-house coordinators, a small bookkeeper (Lesley Jarvis), and grounds staff (Hugh Mulholland, Mark Gilkinson). Reported headcount is 1-10 and ownership remains entirely within the Mackie family, making this a lifestyle/hospitality business rather than a venture-scalable enterprise.

Name

Lissanoure Castle

Legal name

Lissanoure Castle

Website

https://lissanourecastle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lissanoure Castle is a privately-owned historic castle estate in Northern Ireland that exclusively hosts weddings, private celebrations, corporate events, and filming for individual couples, corporations, and production companies, operating since 1994 under family ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wedding & Event Venue Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Heritage & Palace Luxury Hotels (THAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Farmhouses, Country Houses & Vineyard Estates (THAMAEAG), Private House Hotels & Small Luxury Inns (THAGADAL)

Keywords

• Wedding venue hire
• Private event hosting
• Estate property rentals
• Filming location services
• Corporate event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, WX2WWZ, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Hire: The primary revenue stream comes from renting the castle estate and its converted venues (Coach House and Castle Barn) for weddings, parties, corporate events, and filming. The venue is available for bespoke and package weddings throughout the year, with exclusive use for each booking.
2. Bar Services: Fully licensed and well-stocked bar services are provided on-site, with staff included for events. The bar operates in the Macartney Room within the Coach House and in the Castle Barn.
3. Property Rental: Additional revenue from renting estate properties including The White Lodge (gate lodge), The Rectory Wing (4-bedroom property), The Rectory (18th-century property), and Gamekeeper's House (designed by J.B. Keane).
4. Filming and Photography Location: The estate generates income from hosting TV productions, filming, and photography shoots. Past productions include BBC's Flog It, David Meade Make Believe, Lesser Spotted Ulster (UTV), and Antique Road Trip.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lissanoure Castle rents out its private estate in Northern Ireland as an exclusive-use venue for weddings, private parties, corporate events, and TV/photography filming. The converted 18th century Coach House and Castle Barn provide event spaces with fully licensed bars, and the venue coordinates weddings end-to-end through in-house wedding coordinators and bar staff. Additional revenue is generated from renting out four on-estate residential properties and from hosting media productions at the historic grounds.

Product overview

Lissanoure Castle is an award-winning private event venue and wedding destination located on a family-owned estate in Northern Ireland. The offering consists of a unified venue service built around the historic castle and its converted outbuildings. The core portfolio includes the Coach House (an 18th century converted coach house with bar and dining facilities for up to 100 guests), the Castle Barn (a large event space for weddings and parties of over 100 guests), and multiple rental properties (The White Lodge, The Rectory Wing, The Rectory, and Gamekeeper's House). The venue provides exclusive-use wedding packages, corporate event hosting, filming and photography location services, and general party/event hire—all supported by in-house catering facilities, licensed bars, and staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wedding Venue Hire Full-service wedding venue offering exclusive use of the estate for bespoke or package weddings, including ceremonies, receptions, and on-estate accommodation for couples and guests. The Coach House and Castle Barn provide function spaces with fully licensed bars, supported by dedicated wedding coordinators and bar staff.
• The Coach House An 18th century converted coach house with three large reception rooms, open log fires, the Macartney Room with a fully licensed bar, and a dining room seating up to 100 guests. Leads onto a private courtyard and is used for weddings, parties and ceremonies.
• The Castle Barn A large event venue adjacent to the Coach House, featuring comfortable seating around an open fire, dance floor, stage for band or DJ, and a fully licensed bar. Suitable for weddings and parties of over 100 guests.
• Corporate Events & Filming Location Hire Private secluded location hire for corporate seminars, conferences, product launches, TV filming and photography shoots. As a Historic Houses Association member, the venue adopts the association's standard filming contract. Past clients include BBC (Flog It, David Meade Make Believe, Antique Road Trip) and UTV (Lesser Spotted Ulster).
• Party & Event Hosting Venue hire for birthdays, anniversaries, summer parties, Christmas parties, and other private celebrations. Features open log fires in every room, a fully licensed bar and capacity for both sit-down dinners and larger stand-up receptions.
• The White Lodge (Rental Property) A picturesque gate lodge built around 1860 on the south entrance to the estate on the edge of Loughguile Lake, available to rent as self-catering accommodation.
• The Rectory Wing (Rental Property) A charming four-bedroom property originally part of the main Rectory, with an enclosed garden, available to rent as self-catering accommodation.
• The Rectory (Rental Property) An eighteenth-century Rectory situated at the main entrance to Lissanoure Castle opposite the church, with an enclosed garden, available to rent as self-catering accommodation.
• Gamekeeper's House (Rental Property) A property designed by J.B. Keane around 1830 for George Hume Macartney as the gate lodge to the north entrance of the estate, available to rent as self-catering accommodation.
• On-site Licensed Bar Service Fully licensed and well-stocked bar services provided on-site during events, with staff included. The bar operates in the Macartney Room within the Coach House and in the Castle Barn, available as part of wedding, corporate and party bookings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded Wedding Venue of the Year 2019 (Co. Antrim and Overall Northern Ireland)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• World HostminorOthersWorld Host training program helps train staff in hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses. Lissanoure Castle is a member, indicating commitment to customer service standards.
• Historic Houses AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLissanoure Castle is a member of the Historic Houses Association. As a member, they adopt the association's standard contract for filming and photography. The HHA represents historic houses open to the public across the UK and Ireland.
• Causeway Coast and Glens Borough CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLissanoure Castle is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty near the Causeway Coast, promoted in partnership with the local council for tourism.
• All Saints Church, LoughguilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at the main entrance to Lissanoure Castle Estate, All Saints Church offers wedding ceremonies. The church provides a lovely walk (weather permitting) from the church up the drive to the Castle, creating an integrated wedding experience.
• Jane Torrens and Sarah DelaneycoreOthersWedding coordinators who oversee the running of every wedding at Lissanoure Castle. They work closely with couples to ensure dreams are turned into reality.
• BBCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBBC productions filmed at Lissanoure Castle include Flog It, David Meade Make Believe, and Antique Road Trip (Series 19, Episode 16 featuring Irish dancing history).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Ballygally Castle: 17th-century castle hotel on the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland. Comparable as a heritage castle venue in the same region, with overlapping customer base of couples and corporate clients.

Broad incumbents

• Adare Manor: Luxury castle resort in County Limerick operated by a major hospitality group. Comparable heritage positioning but operates as a broader luxury destination with significantly larger capacity and amenities.
• Ashford Castle: Iconic luxury 13th-century castle hotel in County Mayo, operated under broader hospitality group ownership. Comparable in heritage castle wedding positioning but at a much larger scale and price point.

Direct peers

• Castle Leslie Estate: Irish castle estate offering exclusive weddings, private celebrations, and on-site accommodation. Comparable as a family-owned heritage estate with multi-property rentals and similar mid-sized capacity.
• Bellingham Castle: 17th-century Irish castle wedding and events venue with on-site accommodation. Comparable in size, target market (couples seeking exclusive-use heritage venues), and revenue mix.
• Dromoland Castle: Luxury 16th-century castle hotel and wedding venue in County Clare, Ireland. Directly comparable as a heritage castle offering exclusive-use weddings, on-site accommodation, and corporate events with a similar premium positioning.
• Lough Eske Castle: Historic Irish castle hotel offering weddings, corporate events, and filming in County Donegal. Comparable heritage positioning and similar multi-event revenue streams.
• Kilronan Castle Estate: 19th-century castle estate in County Roscommon offering weddings and corporate events. Comparable in exclusive-use wedding model and heritage-led positioning.
• Barberstown Castle: 13th-century castle hotel and wedding venue in County Kildare. Comparable in heritage age, wedding-and-events focus, and on-site accommodation offerings.
• Slane Castle: Historic Irish castle estate with on-site wedding venue and concert/event hosting. Comparable in heritage estate positioning, large-capacity outdoor event use, and Irish tourism appeal.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lissanoure-castle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lissanoure Castle