Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has told The Hunts Post that work will start on the Old Post Office and George Hall today (Monday) and will open later this year.

The pub giant bought the site in George Street in 2013 and intended to have the pub and its 20 bed hotel open by 2014 but with more than a year without any building work the company is now making progress.

JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We can confirm that building work on a new pub and 20-bed hotel will start on Monday.

“We are looking forward to starting building work and aiming to have the pub and hotel open late July, early August.”

It was announced last month that the delay in work starting on the listed properties came after the company wanted to “take into account” the history of the buildings.

It is likely that a lot of the originally features from the two buildings will aim to be saved and used in the pub.

To create the pub, coined Sandford House, the chain will invest £4million that will see it link the 4,623 sqft Grade II-listed Old Post Office to the George Hall, which sits on the corner of the site, to create a single large pub and dining area covering about 3,500 sqft.

“With the completion of the pub it is likely to create more than 70 new jobs for the area.

“We believe that it will be a great asset to the town and hopefully also act as a catalyst for further investment in the town,” added Mr Gershon.

The pub’s name Sandford House was chosen by the chain after it was revealed that it was the name for the Old Post Office when it was a private residence.