Baytree Boutique, Hillsborough
Susan McCague and her husband operate the Baytree Boutique B&B in Hillsborough. “We’ve been in business for two years now,” she says. “I came from a teaching background. I was a primary school teacher and took early retirement — I felt like a change of direction.
“I had a detached house on my property and I like cooking, I like baking, I like people and I have a house, so it just all felt right. It was something that evolved.
“It’s a family-run business. My husband, William, is involved on a part-time basis.
“We have three sons, two of whom have flown the nest and one still living at home.
“That was another reason for setting up the B&B — the empty nest. And with my three sons, I’m well used to feeding people.”
With a smaller B&B, she doesn’t have to get up excessively early to prepare breakfast.
“I have two rooms, so it’s only ever four people,” Susan says.
“My day would begin at around 6am, when I fix breakfast, which I prepare fresh, using local produce.
“The B&B is in a separate building, so guests come into my house to the dining room for breakfast.
“Then I turn the place around, preparing tea and coffee and something homebaked for when my next guests come in.”
While the work can be tiring, meeting fascinating people from the far-flung corners of the world keeps Susan energised.
“I have all sorts of people come to me from all over the
globe,” she says.
“It really is part of the fascination of the job, meeting people from different walks of life.
“I have had some really interesting guests. I had the BBC’s Lucy Worsley (inset), to stay.
“We are right next to Hillsborough Castle, but I haven’t had Prince Charles or Camilla, or indeed Harry and Meghan, to stay just yet, but you never know what might happen in the future.
“The best part of running a B&B is the people you meet. This week I could have local people to stay from down the road or people from the other side of the world.
“It is far busier in the summer than it is in the winter. May is always particularly busy because of the Balmoral Show.
“From April through to September would be busy and the rest of the year just ticks over, with weekends being busier.
“I’ve had brides come to stay with me. I had one bride leave for her wedding from here, which was very special.
“I’ve also had people come for sad occasions. That is the beauty of it. You meet so many people from all corners of the world, from all walks of life, each with their own story. It’s fascinating.”