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The Barrowland's star-clad façade set for a face-lift

Sysco Productions An artist impression of the Barrowland's front façade with the proposed LED display to the right. Sysco Productions
A planning application has been submitted to add an LED display to the venue's front façade, as seen in this artist's impression

The owners of Glasgow's famous Barrowland Ballroom are set to alter its iconic star-clad façade.

The famous neon signage of the beloved music venue, which has hosted some of the biggest musicians in the world, was installed in 1982.

But now Margaret McIver Ltd, the company that owns both the Barrowland and the Barras Market in Glasgow's east end, has submitted a planning application to the city's council to modernise the front of the building.

The proposals include the addition of a large LED display to the right of the Barrowland neon sign and another LED display on the entrance canopy.

Getty Images The Barrowland's star-clad, colourful neon sign.Getty Images
The current neon sign was installed in 1982

The Barrowland Ballroom was originally opened as a dancehall for market traders by Maggie McIver on Christmas Eve 1934.

At the time, a neon sign in the shape of a man pushing a barrow, positioned at the top of the façade, became a significant landmark for the area.

This neon sign was removed during the war after Nazi German radio broadcasts identified it in great detail as a target reference point for bombings.

The original building was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1958, and reopened on 24 December 1960.

In 1983, the ballroom became a concert venue with a capacity of 1,900 standing and it is renowned for its acoustics and its sprung dancefloor.

Getty Images Two music fans holding Simple Minds ticket standing in front of the Barrowland. The photo is in black and white. Getty Images
The venue has been a favourite with music fans for decades

Musicians such as Oasis, David Bowie and Bob Dylan have taken to the Barrowland's stage, while Scottish artists Amy Macdonald and Simple Minds have tracks about the world-renowned venue.

Its new neon sign has become a major landmark for Glasgow's cultural landscape and Scotland's music scene, featuring on an Apple iPhone billboard campaign in the US and being replicated as a stage backdrop by Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.

Glasgow City Council previously said it would like to see the neon sign granted listed landmark status like that of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Scotland Street School, the Argyll Arcade and Glasgow Cathedral.

getting a man with short grey hair, wearing a grey jacket and blue t-shirt waves to an unseen crowd while a man with black hair and black jacket is playing a white guitargetting
Simple Minds named a track after the venue on their 2018 studio album, Walk Between Worlds

A planning statement by architects McGinlay Bell said the LED screens would "enhance the building's character" and not detract from the existing neon lettering and stars.

"The Barrowland façade presents an exciting opportunity to serve as a fully digital platform for showcasing upcoming events and sharing venue-related information," the firm said.

"It has the potential to elevate the iconic façade by integrating a dynamic, contemporary digital feature."

The plans are currently pending consideration by council officials.