As the long-term manager of the Groucho Club, Bernie Katz witnessed much louche and bacchanalian behaviour, often involving unlicensed chemicals, bottles of absinthe and the actor Keith Allen. Yet he was also a great keeper of celebrity secrets, protecting his members from unwanted — and even sometimes wanted — publicity. It was the surreal rather than the debauched aspects of The Groucho in which Katz took the greatest delight. At his retirement party earlier this year he recalled the night that he and the actress Daryl Hannah had managed to climb out of the Groucho to explore the rooftops of Soho, before dropping in on other private members’ clubs, and causing much surprise. He also expressed his gratitude to Jessica Lange, whom he claimed had…

Source: The Times September 06, 2017 23:03 UTC