ONE of Worcester's newest restaurants is aiming to be-come a hub of the city's business community.

The Glasshouse in Sidbury, which opened last November amid a blaze of publicity, wants to establish itself as the venue where businessmen and women meet and also take their clients.

It has launched a business club where members can meet and network, share best practice, have lunch, listen to a guest speaker and raise money for charity.

Brandon Weston, Worcester entrepreneur and joint owner of the Glasshouse, said: "We are putting this venue forward as the business venue for Worcester. It is a place for business people to meet and have lunch, or meet after work and bring clients. There is a conference facility upstairs. We want to make it the hub of the business community."

He said that places such as Birmingham and Cheltenham had hubs for their business communities, and it was frustrating that Worcester did not have anything similar.

He said the Glasshouse Business Club would stage regular launches. The first was held last Friday, when with new Worcester Warriors coach Mike Ruddock holding a question-and-answer session. There was a fund-raising quiz.

Mr Weston is hoping the club will raise £10,000 in its first year for the Noah's Ark Trust, which supports bereaved children, through Wooden Spoon - a national charity supporting mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children and young people.

Mr Weston said: "We managed to get Mike Ruddock for the first lunch, which is fantastic, and we were over-subscribed with people wanting to attend the lunch. We have been inundated with offers from speakers and John Leftwich, former Microsoft vice-president, will give a talk at a lunch on Friday July 27.

"Worcester businesses ought to be seen to be giving collectively to local charities. It is good for the charities and it is good for businesses.

"I am really really pleased with they way it is going. We got a fantastic response to our first lunch. I think we have a springboard from which to move it forward."

He hopes the club, which has attracted solicitors, accountants, estate agents, architects, recruitment executives and bankers, will grow to a membership of 200.

Membership is free and anyone interested in joining can complete a form online by logging on to www.theglasshouse.co.uk or by contacting the Glasshouse.