THE boss of pub chain giant JD Wetherspoons has revealed work to add hotel rooms to a town centre tavern will begin in 18 months.

Around £2million will be spent on adding 22 rooms to The Postal Order in Blackburn, Tim Martin revealed.

The pledge came as the chairman visited the pub as part of his UK tour to chat to customers about his EU beliefs and discuss the outcomes of leaving the European Union in March.

Mr Martin, who founded the pub chain and employs around 37,000 people, spoke to customers about why the Government should leave without a deal.

“We will have 22 rooms but hopefully we can try and get 25.”

Mr Martin, 63, said the country would benefit from leaving the EU with no deal by slashing import taxes on non-EU products, saving the proposed £39billion leaving bill and regaining control of historic fishing grounds.

When asked about the Prime Minister’s no confidence vote on Wednesday, Mr Martin said: “Theresa May is the wrong person to lead the country.

"She’s not a winner, she wanted to remain.

“You need a strong person, someone who has cross-party approval.

“I think Boris Johnson would be a strong candidate. He was elected mayor in London twice, a Conservative in a Labour-voting city.”

When asked about the hotel plans for The Postal Order, Mr Martin said: “It’s a very exciting chapter for the pub.

“It’s in a great, central position.

“It’s a very historic, beautiful building in the town centre.

The Postal Order’s hotel scheme, which will take around two years to complete, is aimed at tourists and people travelling on business, and around 15 jobs would be created.

The hotel bedrooms would include TV, irons, tea and coffee, baths, walk-in showers, desk and free Wifi.