This week I had the chance to go to a work event at Belfast City Hall. Everyone I know seems to have been inside the building before but this was my very first time.

As Halloween is over they felt obliged to have a Christmas tree. I restricted myself to the star on the main tree in the central hall visible from the top storey.

Inside and out its a fantastic public building, clad in marble with dramatic sweeping staircases, chandeliers, flags, great ceiling domes and stained glass windows.

All very opulent and very much from another age.