Gloucester Cathedral hosts first business networking breakfast in partnership with WSP Solicitors

Taking place on Thursday 5 March in the Chapter House in Gloucester Cathedral, the Networking Breakfast is designed to connect business leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals from across the region in an informal and welcoming environment. Located within the Cathedral’s famous Cloister, which is currently undergoing restoration, the Chapter House was historically a meeting space for the monks who first lived and worshipped at the Cathedral. Today, it provides a fitting setting for an event that reflects the Cathedral’s commitment to engaging with the local business community, supporting collaboration and the future of Gloucester.

Guests will be welcomed by The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, The Dean of Gloucester, and will also hear from Antony Feltham King, architect for the Cathedral’s Cloister Project, who will provide an update on this significant twelve-year conservation programme, which aims to secure the future of the Great Cloister. The first phase of this project focuses on the East Walk, where urgent repairs are needed to protect historic stonework, roof structures and stained glass.

Guests will also have the opportunity to meet some of the Cathedral’s stonemasons, whose skills and craftsmanship are crucial to these ongoing conservation efforts and who are working on site in the Cathedral’s Cloister, using traditional craft skills to safeguard the Cathedral’s fabric.

The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, The Dean of Gloucester said:

“We are delighted to be opening the doors of Gloucester Cathedral to the local business community and professionals for this first networking breakfast, in partnership with our friends at WSP Solicitors.

“This is not a traditional networking event, but an opportunity to make genuine connections in a place that has brought people together for more than 900 years. The Great Cloister and Chapter House provide opportunities for reflection as well as conversation, and we hope guests will leave with a deeper sense of the Cathedral’s role at the heart of Gloucester’s life past, present and future.”

Camella Cephas, Managing Director at WSP Solicitors, added:

“We’re incredibly proud to be supporting Gloucester Cathedral’s first networking breakfast. Having worked closely with the Cathedral’s team over the past couple of years, it’s an event that reflects so much of what we value as a firm, strengthening connections and encouraging greater collaboration.

“The Cathedral is an iconic part of our city and an important focal point for different communities across the region. This event offers a fantastic opportunity to bring local organisations together in an informal, welcoming setting providing a brilliant platform for sharing ideas.”

Light refreshments will be on offer with the event running from 9 until 11am.

Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased via the Gloucester Cathedral website: https://gloucestercathedral.org.uk/whats-on/networking-breakfast.

ENDS

For more media information, please email Elspeth Keep:

Elspeth.keep@gloucestercathedral.org.uk

About Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral is a glorious sacred space in the heart of Gloucester, with a history that can be traced back to 679AD. It is the mother church of the Diocese of Gloucester and welcomes around 400,000 visitors every year. The Cathedral is open daily, with entry by donation, and hosts a packed and varied programme of services and events throughout the year.

Gloucester Cathedral is a charity and relies on the support of generous individuals, families, visitors and trusts. No matter the size, every gift to the Cathedral is critical to our work, ensuring this beautiful building remains in the best condition for future generations.

About WSP Solicitors

WSP Solicitors has been at the heart of Gloucestershire since 1758, formed following the merger of three local firms: Winterbothams, A E Smith & Son and Penleys, which was established by the Vizard family. William Vizard acted for Queen Caroline when George IV tried to divorce her.

The firm’s ethos is to make life less complicated from everything it does from the legal advice it offers individuals and companies down to its fees. With offices in the Cotswold town of Stroud and just outside Gloucester City Centre, enabling them to easily service clients in both Gloucester and Cheltenham, the firm now has a team of 65 providing a wide range of personal and business legal services including:

• Commercial contracts

• Commercial property

• Buying and selling a business

• Residential conveyancing

• Child and family law

• Separating together – out of court family law services

• Wills, trusts and probate

In 2025, WSP Solicitors are a finalist in the Customer Excellence category at the SoGlos Gloucestershire Business awards.