We are introducing a new series of interviews with members of our team, and we are starting this with Celia Paton, the co-owner and co-founder of Paton & Co.
Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I am Celia – co-owner and co-founder of Paton & Co – and I handle all the marketing and property presentation at Paton & Co Estates. I am married to Patrick – the other owner and founder who very much heads up the sales side of the business. We started as a husband and wife team and from day one we have had our own lanes within the business, which has enabled us to work together to grow the business and build an amazing team.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I absolutely love that work doesn’t feel like work at all to me. The team feel like part of our extended family and I just love doing the marketing for a company that I believe in 100%. I can stand in front of anyone and say with confidence that you won’t get a team who will try harder or care more – and this has delivered great results for our clients over the last 5 years. I cannot believe it has been that long! It feels like only yesterday that we were launching the business.
What’s your favourite place to escape to or explore?
I love the beach – Goswick, Cheswick, Cocklawburn. I just love taking Fidget (our lively spaniel) and the kids (who are also lively – Jock is 7 and Freddie is 5) and heading down to the beach with Paddy to get fresh air. I also love a riverside walk along the Tweed and adventuring into the Borders towns of Kelso and Melrose, or heading down the coast for lunch or coffee and a walk further afield in Bamburgh, Alnwick and Corbridge.
I’m also prone to jumping onto the train and heading into Edinburgh. I love the city and feel so lucky to live on the border and be able to explore North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders with such ease, yet I can also be enjoying cocktails with girlfriends in Edinburgh. I know I work for an estate agent but I really don’t think it gets much better. Don’t get me started on the fact that we have Newcastle and Edinburgh airports also close for when we venture further afield!
Can you tell us some of your favourite local businesses?
I LOVE a browse in Sarah Thompson in Melrose or their new shop in Corbridge. Equally, a new favourite of mine is Kitty & Gus in Kelso – I would challenge you to leave that shop without a handful of goodies! I also enjoy heading for a coffee and a catch up with friends in Mainstreet Trading in St Boswells. I love visiting Floors Castle, while the Bamburgh Walled Garden Cafe and The Hirsel Homestead are a firm favourites when I’m with the kids. We tend to enjoy a walk together, then I enjoy a cup of tea whilst they have a play in the park with some sort of delicious cake or an ice cream!
As a family we enjoy a Sunday lunch in our local pub, The Victoria in Norham, while a day trip to Dalkeith Country Park or Alnwick Gardens are such fun for a family day out.
What are you enjoying reading, watching, or listening to at the moment?
So at the moment I’m listening to The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. I must have already told so many people about it! I’m really enjoying it, and it feels like it’s giving me a whole new perspective on how you view and tackle different situations – some you can control and some you cannot. I love this type of thing and would highly recommend it. I’m reading the Harry Potter series with the boys and am also loving this.
If you were to describe your dream home what would it look like?
Now this is a very hard one as I see sooooo many beautiful homes and fall in love constantly. I think my dream home would be a very old house with amazing features, but completely modernised so you’d still have all the benefits of a new build home. It would have amazing views and it wouldn’t be too big – but with enough space for entertaining (as I love a wee social gathering) and space for my family who live further north to come and stay.
Also, while I appreciate minimalist homes, I love colour and would have fun colours and patterns everywhere. And, finally, I would have a utility room upstairs so the washing stays upstairs! Washing is my arch nemesis with young kids – I am always at my happiest in the home when the washing is done and put away, although I know that sounds a bit sad!
What are you most looking forward to over the festive period?
I cannot wait to spend time with family and friends and reflect back on the year – and get excited about what 2026 holds. 2025 has been a busy year for us. In terms of the property market it has been a fairly tough year but for us as a business I am so proud of how our team have handled it – and we won our first big award. As an agency we won a Gold Award for Sales at the EA Masters 2025, and personally there were some big milestone celebrations for me as I turned 40, and can honestly say this is a decade that I’m fully embracing and am very excited about.
I also just love Christmas as the kids are at that very special age where everything is magical. It’s so special and I just want bottle it. It’s hard not to absolutely love Christmas when you have the opportunity to see it through the eyes of a child.
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