Lovells' function room at its Atlantic House headquarters was packed with hacks last week for the City firm's annual press knees-up. In keeping with tradition, the glasses were being topped up as quickly as the thirsty journalists could empty them. This year the firm was trumpeting the opening of a new office in Madrid, so it laid on a generous supply of tapas, pink Cava and - just in case anyone had missed the theme - castanets, Spanish guitar and a flamenco dancer in full frills. Just the trick to get the party into full swing, you would think, so guests were surprised when the full-volume flamenco music was mysteriously cut short. Could it be that the foot-stomping frivolity was a little too much for the worker bees below to bear?