EMBRACE are performing there in December - and now couples look likely to be able to share their first kiss as a married couple at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

Proposals are being put forward to demolish the existing register office nearby and transform the Grade II Listed Victorian building at a cost of £479,000.

Any wedding or civil partnership commitments in the existing ceremony rooms will be honoured, although all bookings will be offered in the new venue as an alternative.

The town hall will continue to pull in big name music acts including UB40 and Elkie Brooks as well as famous comedians such as Jimmy Carr and Dara O Briain, alongside classical performances, drama, musicals and dance.

The closure of the register office was part of proposals for £15m of cuts put forward by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon which was agreed at a meeting of the council earlier this year.

Refurbishment costs would be recouped in less than four years and the local authority would then make a saving of £124,000 per year, it said, as well as cutting a £211,000 maintenance backlog.

A car park is earmarked for the land left after the register officer is bulldozed which could eventually be redeveloped.

The Executive Sub-Committee for Property will meet on Tuesday, September 30. If approval is given, it is estimated that the town hall revamp would take up to 32 weeks and be ready to host weddings from about May 2015.

There are eight other premises across the town approved to hold wedding and civil partnership ceremonies including four hotels, a golf club and The Riverside Stadium, home to Middlesbrough Football Club.

Councillor Dave Budd, Middlesbrough’s Deputy Mayor and chair of the property sub-committee, said: “There are significant benefits in these proposals both financially and in the service we can offer to the people of Middlesbrough.

“The Town Hall would provide a larger and more attractive space for wedding ceremonies and would be more desirable due to the history and significance of the building. It may also mean an increase in the number of reception packages we provide.

“The relocation is also in line with the Change Programme policy of reducing the number of accommodation buildings and would allow closer and more efficient working between the Registration Service and the Coroner’s Service.”

He added: “Most importantly though, it would improve the service on offer to the people of Middlesbrough and free up a key town centre site to enable further enhancements to Centre Square.”