38 minutes | Sunday, 4 October 2020
In conversation with John Healy, General Manager of Suesey Street Restaurant and celebrity Maitre d' of Virgin Media TV's 'The Restaurant'
John Healy first discovered his love of the hospitality sector when he took a summer job in the 80's working as a bar and waiter in The Lord Bagenal Inn in Loughlinbridge, Co Carlow. He also worked as a cocktail waiter in the Town House Hotel in his native Naas, Co Kildare which led to a course in Hotel Management & Business Studies in the Dublin College of Catering at Cathal Brugha Street.
John has worked at every level of the hospitality business on his route to the top. He has been a luggage porter, room service waiter and attendant. During a spell in Paris, at La Ferme Irlandaise, under the guidance of Myrtle Allen, he washed pots and pans until he mastered the French language. After a move to London, John worked at the Rib Room restaurant in the Carlton Towers on Sloane Street. This old school famous London eatery was a haunt of thespians and aristocrats alike.
John's next move saw him take on the role of manager at Europe's largest freestanding restaurant, Mezzo, which was designed and owned by Sir Terence Conran. Five years on and John was ready to return to Ireland to take the reins at Dublin's newest 5-star hotel, The Four Seasons. While working in the Hotel John built up a reputation of loyal customers and he became the face of the Four Seasons Dublin.
John has worked in corporate management consultancy, advising managers about the importance of personal image, people skills and social etiquette. He also teaches what he has mastered in his career - how to handle every situation at every social occasion, without batting an eyelid.
In the year 2010 John's venture in Portugal was a move he did in order to co-manage a new concept in European holidays 'Sober Holidays Renovatio' John played host at a private villa called Renovatio perched high in the hills above the roman spa of Caldas de Monchique.
John treats every customer the same way and he refuses to put celebrities on a pedestal. “Treat everyone the same and the whole room sees it. You run around the room and make everybody feel fabulous and you give them a little piece of you and a little piece of your service. That’s your game plan, that’s what I create.”