In May, site owners Margaret McIver Ltd lodged an application to install a large LED display beside the neon sign, with additional screens positioned around the canopy.

In their ruling, Glasgow City Council planning officials said the new screens would “compete with the existing facade display and would not be read as part of the design of the building”.

They added that the changes would also be a risk to public safety because they would be a distraction to drivers. 

This conclusion was reached despite backing from the Calton Community Council, which argued the digital additions would respect the building’s historic character, pose no safety issues, and provide a valuable tool for promoting events and sharing local messages.

Documents supporting the application stressed that the neon lettering and starburst, installed in 1982 and now considered one of Glasgow’s defining landmarks, would remain untouched. The aim, they said, was to blend modern technology with heritage and secure the venue’s future.

The Barrowlands’ sign has previously been championed for listed status by council leader Susan Aitken, who described it as “one of the most recognised symbols of Glasgow”.

The venue itself was originally built in 1934 by market founder Margaret McIver, rebuilt after a fire in 1958, and reopened in 1960. Over the decades, it has become renowned for its sprung dancefloor and as a stage for global superstars including David Bowie, Oasis, Bob Dylan and Metallica.