A BAR in Bromsgrove will hold its official launch later this month, marking the start of a charity partnership with a neighbouring church.

Six months after St John Wine Rooms opened in Bromsgrove town centre, the restaurant will be hosting a belated launch night to welcome customers and raise funds to support the upkeep of St John the Baptist Church.

David McNally, who joint owns the bar with his wife, her sister and brother-in-law, said: "Unbelievably we have been open for six months as of October, so it is about time we were officially opened.

"We've always been very proud to be in the shadow of our most glorious neighbours at St John's Church, so we're delighted when members of the congregation come along for a bite to eat or a drink.

"We're very conscious of our community and how important it is to build good relationships with neighbours, and we thought what better way to do that than by teaming up with Friends of St John's?

"They're a lovely local charity and we just want to help them in whatever way we can to maintain this splendid church and take the strain off some of the costs associated with keeping it looking as magnificent as it does."

Tickets for the launch night on October 17, including complementary drinks, snacks and entertainment, cost £25 from the St John Street restaurant.

All profits from the event, running from 7pm to 9pm, will be donated to Friends of St John's.

Jo Slade, chairman of Friends of St John's, said: "We are really excited about the partnership with St Johns Wine Rooms and are hugely grateful for their support.

"Friends and the Wine Rooms share a keen interest in the heritage of the town and its beautiful buildings.

"This partnership will help Friends to further promote our town's ancient church as a building for the community, and we are very much looking forward to celebrating this on October 17."