Leicester City Council's recently revamped headquarters has been dubbed the "dull uncle at the wedding party" by a senior councillor.
The council moved it the former municipal offices in Charles Street earlier this year after quitting its condemned New Walk Centre Complex.
The 1930s building, formerly home to the Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, has undergone an £11 million refit but that did not prevent it from being gently mocked by the council's planning committee chairman councillor Patrick Kitterick.
Speaking at a recent planning meeting, where a new block of flats was approved on Charles Street,
Coun Kitterick compared the new civic HQ to some of the other significant buildings nearby.
He said: "In a city centre some buildings are the brides and some are the bridesmaids.
"Actually most buildings are bridesmaids in the city.
"You have got buildings and from my perspective the most attractive are the Foister Building, the former police station, the central baptist church and along with the Guild for the Disabled are delightfully charming buildings.
"City Hall probably sits as a bit of a dull uncle amongst that wedding party."
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby hit back at the remark.
He said: "I think it is one of the finest buildings in Leicester.
"It was built with love and pride in the 1930s to a brilliant design.
"It is clad in Portland Stone like ministry buildings in Whitehall.
"I is very much of its period and I am delighted by the way it has been brought back into use.
"It is true it has been neglected and it had been seen as little more than a snooker but I do disagree with Patrick.
"It is a very fine building."
Some 600 staff transferred over to City Hall when the New Walk Centre closed in the summer after it was declared structurally unsound.
The two 1970s-built concrete towers have been largely stripped out since then and are to be flattened in a so-called controlled implosion early next year. So far no date has been set for the demolition."
Sir Peter says that once the 1.8 acre site is cleared it will be redeveloped.
Sir Peter says he is close to choosing a preferred scheme from a shortlist of three. His decision is likely to be announced next month.
He has said he expects to see a mixed use scheme including offices which will provide employment on the site.
