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Dan Tana's restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard, west Hollywood — which has always been known as a celebrity hangout, is owned by former Brentford chairman Dan Tana. Tana was chairman of Brentford in the 1960's but moved to Hollywood some 30 years ago to open the restaurant.
Mr Tana said: "I haven't turned the restaurant into some tacky shrine to Brentford — we are somewhat more sophisticated than that. Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore are among the ladies who are regulars here. I like to think they come for the restaurant - but they come just as much to catch up on news about the club.
They want to know about my Brentford — not about those big teams. They want to know about the grassroots game — they like to support the underdog I suppose. I don't suppose it's something you would think big celebrities have much time for, but girls like Cameron and Drew and boys like James Woods and Jack Nicholson talk about the club all the time."
He added: "Through me they have become fans of Brentford, and when I am in London and they are around too, it's not unusual for people like Cameron and Drew to join me on the terraces at Griffin Park. Every Saturday when I have looked at the results, we'll talk about them — they are fascinated. All they want to talk about is who won and lost and how Brentford are doing."
Diaz is also believed to keep tabs on the club through its official website. Peter Gilham, communications director at Brentford, said: "Dan has been rubbing shoulders with the Hollywood set for quite some time now. He was a film director so he knows celebs there. He knows everyone from Joe Pesci to Jack Nicholson. And as a result, Brentford FC has a large — if somewhat unlikely — following over there."