Movie hunk CHANNING TATUM has declared it's opening time for his New Orleans, Louisiana bar Saints & Sinners.

The actor's Bourbon Street establishment opened for business on Monday night (08Oct12) and both Tatum and his wife Jenna Dewan were there to pour the drinks.

The Magic Mike star's pal Jason Statham also attended the invite-only launch with his girlfriend Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Tatum decided to open a bar in New Orleans after falling in love with the city while shooting 21 Jump Street there with Jonah Hill.

He said, "I think Jonah wrapped it up perfectly: He said it's (New Orleans) like the bad-kid island in Pinocchio. The Bourbon Street area, Frenchmen, everything. It's just such a vibrant place. I love it down there."

As well as serving up tasty cocktails, the bar also offers the best of local cuisine, including crawfish, red beans and rice, jambalaya, alligator tail, ratatouille and shrimp and grits.