A MAKEOVER worth £22 million is set to bring Paisley Town Hall into the 21st century.

The once-thriving social hub will host a final ceilidh tonight before closing its doors until 2021.

Opening in 1882, the Victorian building became an integral part of Paisley, hosting functions and giving musical stars such as Paolo Nutini and Gerry Rafferty an early chance.

But it will now be given a facelift by the architects responsible for the redevelopment of Old Trafford and reshaping of Hampden for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The £22million refurbishment will transform the facility, creating a social hub, conference and events venue.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “This transformation will have a great impact on Paisley and the whole of Renfrewshire.

“We want to make sure that there are lots of reasons to come to this building because there are lots of activities going on.

“There’s a lot happening in Paisley. We want to bring business and visitors here and create a hub for our community, this transformation will do that.”

The project is part of a £100million investment by Renfrewshire Council and its partners in Paisley’s cultural and heritage venues that will turn the town into a tourist destination.