In the late 80s and early 90s, it was colonised by Julie Burchill and her young gang of bright Modern Review contributors. She would sit in the corner and intimidate people. I personally always found them all rather scary, but Groucho's welcomed them and the minor media revolution they created there. For Dick Bradsell, who worked there during this era, it was wonderful. It's a place to go where people feel comfortable.
Stars can go and there and be treated as normal human beings.
It's a family place, and the staff like working there. Julie Burchill's reign was followed by the Damien years, and it was during Damien Hirst's tenure that I started hanging out there. Damien has now been banned for getting his dick out once too often. That is a great shame as not only has he contributed enormously to the club's atmosphere, he would also spend a sum roughly equivalent to my annual earnings there every year. In contrast to Julie Burchill's steely, nervy elitism, Damien would come over to your table, grin, do cigarette tricks and make you feel glad to be alive.