The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) star, Ferne McCann, officially launched the St Nicholas Café, Bar and Spa in Shrewsbury last night – located within a converted church which dates back to 1865.

Ferne McCann, of the BAFTA-winning ITV2 reality TV show, celebrated the launch of all three parts of the mixed-use facility - situated near Shrewsbury Castle. The top floor hosts the bar, the middle floor is home to the spa and event space is located on the ground floor.

The café and bar opened six months ago, the spa had its soft opening two months ago and the event space was completed yesterday in time for the whole facility’s official opening.

“We’re delighted to have Ferne open St Nicholas,” founder Stephanie Smith said. “She’s fun, fashionable and is a great ambassador.”

Owners Stephanie and Ben Smith – a former goalkeeper for Shrewsbury Town – are the married team behind the Moroccan-inspired spa, which features three single treatment rooms, a couples’ room, steamroom, sauna, Turkish hammam, rasul room, spa pool and ice room.

“The spa’s relaxation room is two rooms with a dividing archway,” Ben Smith told Spa Opportunities. “There is a central elevated platform with a big day-bed for people to lie down on.”

The spa uses the exclusive French skincare brand La Sultane de Saba in its treatments.

Costing £75,000 to refurbish, the spa’s interior design is based on the couples’ experience of other Moroccan spas and Banyan Tree spas in Thailand.

The old church building was de-classified approximately 30 years ago, according to Ben Smith. He and his wife signed a lease with the council in November 2013.

“We’ve left the church’s original features intact, including the arches and stone-work in the spa,” Ben Smith added. “The dark oak gives it a rustic feel.”

The couple also own the local beauty facility, Shrewsbury Tootsies Beauty Retreat.