AN 'upmarket' pub and bar is on course to open in Worcester tomorrow night as the finishing touches are added.

Francesca's in the Corn Market, Worcester, will open at 6.30pm with live music to celebrate the grand opening.

Vocalist Mike Skilbeck will be performing on opening night in the newly revamped pub.

The bar was formerly the Maltster, Bar 12 and Slug and Lettuce but has undergone a change of management and refurbishment.

The team intend that the venue will be a pub during the day, serving home-made food, before switching to an upmarket bar in the evening after 5pm with high-end cocktails, fine locally sourced wines from Herefordshire and Tapas.

Francesca's will feature a smart bar and a separate cocktail and gin bar. A VIP section can be booked for private parties and corporate events say manager Megan Calvert and owner by Nick Smith. A state-of-the-art jukebox has been installed.

The aim is to have a live band or singer performing every Saturday night and to host speed dating and quiz nights.