Lynne McCabe is owner of the new five-star boutique accommodation, Arthurs, in Royal Hillsborough.
Businesswoman Lynne started out by setting up a Fire and Security company at 24, and later pivoted into tourism. She also runs award-winning accommodation guest accommodation, Lisnacurran, near Lisburn and Ralph’s, a 13-room luxury guesthouse set in a B1 listed building in Moira.
Here we put Lynne under the Belfast Live spotlight to delve a little deeper and find out what she enjoys most, her aspirations for the future and everything in between.
What do you do (in 10 words or fewer)?
Run three boutique guest accommodations, in Hillsborough, Moira and Dromore.
Three main attributes you need for the job:
A welcoming disposition, dedication to hard work and attention to detail.
Path to this position:
I started by running a few guest rooms at our home, Lisnacurran, as a side-line, whilst running a fire and security company. Myself and my husband then bought a guesthouse in Moira, which we rebranded as Ralph’s.
Most recently, we’ve opened Arthur’s, a 12-suite boutique guesthouse set in a listed building in beautiful Royal Hillsborough.
What’s your dream job (present position excepted)?
Antique Buyer.
What are you most proud of (work-wise)?
I’m proud of establishing a fire and security company at 24, which I nurtured over the course of 20 years with the help of my husband.
Of course, I’m also incredibly proud of our latest venture, Arthur’s. I have huge enthusiasm for interiors, antiques and hospitality, and each of the suites at Arthur’s has been carefully curated and themed to reflect the many facets of life in Royal Hillsborough.
What are you most proud of (in life)?
That as a workaholic, I managed to find a husband to take me on and raise our two boys, Clarke and Austin! I love watching their business acumen develop.
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your organisation and how did you adapt?
It was difficult of course, but we were fortunate enough to make it through.
As an essential business, we were able to trade at about 20 per cent of our normal turnover, and with low costs, no VAT and exceptional support, we managed.
The time ultimately proved reflective and restorative.
What lessons did you learn about yourself during lockdown?
That I never stop learning.
Who is Northern Ireland’s brightest business brain?
Paddy McKillen! I‘m obsessed with the TV show, The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild.
In terms of past genius, it would have to be Royal Hillsborough native and engineer, inventor and aviator, Harry Ferguson.
We can also lay claim to Royal Hillsborough’s Professor Pantridge, who invented the defibrillator, so it’s quite difficult to choose!
What do you wish you had invented?
Harry Ferguson’s three-point linkage - my farming mad sons would be so much more in awe of me.
Favourite App on your phone:
Instagram offers it all – from marketing to design ideas, and it keeps me abreast of what the customer wants.
Apart from Belfast Live and your own, what’s your favourite website?
From a personal point of view, it would have to be www.easyliveauction.com, as I’m passionate about antiques.
Professionally, I love www.firmdalehotels.com for inspiration.
If you were spending the day in Belfast where is your dream breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks?
It would have to be breakfast at the Titanic hotel, then lunch at Maggie May’s, Botanic, to remind me of my student days. I would finish off with dinner and drinks at the amazing Shu Restaurant on the Lisburn Road.
Where’s your hidden gem in Northern Ireland?
Can I have two? It would have to be Royal Hillsborough and Historic Moira. I’m fortunate to live and work in an idyllic rural setting that is steeped in history and offers so much in terms of fun and hospitality.
Where’s your favourite place in the world?
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
How would you describe Belfast to someone who’s never been?
Vibrant and big on hospitality, food, drinks and fun! It’s also a forward-looking city set with striking architecture.
In 10 years’ time I’d like to...
I’m hoping to become less integral to but still supportive of the business.
To find out more about Arthur’s, visit: arthurshillsborough.com
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