The pubco, which operates about 2,400 sites, awarded Healy with a Dedicated Service Award when Star operations director Tim Galligan visited the Saddlers Arms in Send, Surrey, which The Healy Group Pubs took on a 10-year lease in December 2023 following a £200,000 refurbishment, with a financial contribution from Star Pubs.
The Healy Group Pubs operation is a family affair with four of Healy’s children – Kevin, Donna, Don Junior and Sian – working in the business.
Healy’s wife Marion, now retired, set up the operation with Healy mainly overseeing HR and utilities. Today, The Healy Group Pubs has 20 leased pubs of which seven are Star Pubs.
The group’s portfolio includes community, food, sport, and family-led outlets, covering the south-east and the Home Counties and stretching from Luton and Oxfordshire to Portsmouth and Southampton.
Operated 500 pubs
During his 40 years in the industry, Healy’s business has operated around 500 pubs, providing jobs for more than 2,500 employees.
Healy had originally worked as a quantity surveyor in the construction industry prior to changing careers to operate pubs for himself in particular turning around failing pubs. Healy and Marion started with two freehold pubs in Ireland and rapidly scaled up their operation when they were offered eight Grand Met pubs to manage in England.
Healy said: “I have good relationships with business development managers. If there’s a failing pub, I go and have a look. I shy away from high end food pubs because of labour issues. Getting staff has been the toughest challenge over the years.
“A lot of the success of our pubs is because they’re based in strong community areas offering consistent local support. Although the environment is challenging there is still demand. Takings were down a few weeks prior to the budget as people were worried about finances but they have since recovered.
Trying to retire
“It’s essential to keep investing as people won’t go into shabby pubs anymore. We spent a lot of money during covid when pubs were closed, redecorating and upgrading gardens. Our gardens are doing exceptionally well now, even in November.
“I am beginning to hand over the reins to the family. In fact, I have been trying to retire for five years and am still here. I Just love the business.”
Star Pub ops director Tim Galligan added: “Donal’s passion for the industry is evident in the success of the family business and that so many of his children have decided to follow in his and Marion’s footsteps.
“It’s an honour to give Donal this well-deserved award. He lives and breathes pubs. Running a significant number of pubs to a high standard is an achievement at any age, but at 75 Donal is setting the bar high. I wish him well and to continue enjoying running his great pubs.”
