Our friends at Spitalfields Music kindly arranged a performance at the agency this afternoon by the Gainsborough Quartet, who played a selection of festive and familiar pieces, while we scoffed mince pies and mulled wine. Very civilised.

Check out the eclectic line-up at the Spitalfields Music winter festival – including Monstrous Meoldies and a Spitalfields Christmas Carol – which starts next week at their website here.