HE IS known as the Prince of Soho, the man who for 15 years has been the gatekeeper to the party palace of the Groucho Club.

Now Bernie Katz, 40, has turned his experience of life amid the stars, the sex workers and the homeless into a book.

It is already sparking excitement as Soho habituees ponder which of the tales with titles such as Seduction Of The Straight Man, Interview With A Rent Boy and No 1 Door Whore - the guest list monitors for the smartest parties - refer to them.

Sienna Miller, one of the few to have seen the book, thinks she sees herself in one tale but is not saying which.

But Mr Katz, the Groucho's front-of-house host, admits that many other famous - and infamous - people are also set to recognise themselves, leading to much speculation as to who is hip enough for inclusion and who is not. He said: "Every one is based on everyone and no one character is based on anybody. But egos are so big in Soho they will think it's them."

It is not just Mr Katz's work at the Groucho that he can draw on. Stories from drinking dens Gerry's, Soho House to Black's as well as Soho institutions such as the Bar Italia coffee shop are all part of his off-duty experience.

Stephen Fry, who has written the foreword, said: "I have collected Soho literature for 30 years. For the last 10 or 15 I had despaired of ever hearing a new voice who really understood what Soho is. And now Bernie Katz has produced this collection and I am happy."

Soho Society, published by Quartet Books, is illustrated with 16 works by artists who have become Mr Katz's friends. They are led by Damien Hirst who, in his hell-raising days was famous for exploits in the Groucho. Other contributors include Tracey Emin, Peter Blake, Sarah Lucas, Sam Taylor-Wood and Jonathan Yeo. The works go on show at the Lazarides Gallery in Soho for a week from 26 November and will be sold at a charity auction at the gallery on 27 November hosted by Fry. It is hoped they will fetch at least £500,000 for the StreetSmart charity for the homeless.

Mr Katz grew up in south London, the son of a gangster, Brian Clifford, who was shot dead in front of him when he was young.

But he has made Soho his life. He said: "I come out when the moon replaces the sun. I'm very rarely out during the day. I wanted to capture my experience of the Soho streets. From the days of Henry VIII, Soho has been a debauched place. It has remained party central with lots of deviant behaviour. It's a very naughty place but an honourable place. But it's being tidied up and getting very corporate. In 10 years ... it will lose its heart and soul."

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