Lissanoure Castle, near Ballymena in County Antrim, is a private family estate that hires out an 18th-century Coach House and a Castle Barn for weddings, parties, seminars and filming. The Coach House dining room seats 100 for a sit-down meal, and the Castle Barn is for parties of more than 100. Only one event is held per day, so the venue is exclusively yours.
Seminars and company events
The site describes the estate as a private, secluded location for lectures, conferences, seminars, product launches, filming and photo shoots, so an event can run without interruption. No room capacities are given for corporate use, but the Coach House and the Barn are the same spaces used for parties, and both have kitchens for caterers. Viewings are by appointment only.
Weddings and receptions
The Coach House has three large reception rooms with open log fires, a hallway with a gallery, the Macartney Room with a licensed bar, and a dining room with a dance floor at one end. For larger weddings, the afternoon reception is usually held in the Coach House and guests then move to the Castle Barn for the sit-down dinner and dance. All rooms open to a private courtyard.
Ceremonies can take place in the main reception room of the Coach House, or outdoors in a covered area of the garden between the castle walls. Many couples also marry at All Saints Church at the estate entrance and walk up the drive. A bedroom with an en-suite in the Coach House is available to the couple.
Rooms and capacities
Coach House dining room: 100 seated comfortably for dinner, more for a stand-up reception. Macartney Room: furnished lounge with a licensed bar. Castle Barn: for over 100 guests, with a seating area around an open fire, a dance floor, a stage for a band or DJ, and a staffed bar. Courtyard: private, for outdoor receptions.
Accommodation
Apart from the couple's en-suite bedroom in the Coach House, there is no guest accommodation. The team provides a list of recommended local hotels, bed and breakfasts and self-catering options.
Catering
Fully fitted kitchens in both the Coach House and the Barn are for caterers to use. The venue does not supply the catering itself, and both buildings have a fully licensed bar.
History and setting
The castle stands on an island site in the heart of a privately owned estate. It was the original seat of Lord Macartney, the first British Ambassador to China. The Coach House is a semi-circular 18th-century building, with all rooms opening onto a secluded courtyard.
Getting there
The estate is near Loughguile, outside Ballymena, with All Saints Church at the main entrance. The Castle Barn sits next to the Coach House and the car park.
