WHEN you walk through the sliding doors of Home, Manchester's £25million visual arts, theatre and cinema complex, you feel like you're entering a hotel lobby.

There are oceans of space and, like all good hotel lobbies, it was a hive of activity. The box office staff smile at you and are approachable and polite, something that made my visits to the Library Theatre and Cornerhouse such a pleasure.

I was hoping they'd bottle the atmosphere of these two great venues when they merged to become Home and they have.

Arts venues are places to relax as much as they are to be entertained and have your cultural horizons broadened. Stuffy they should never be.

The main dining area and bar is unpretentiously simply stylish and the main theatre, a 450 seater, intimate without being claustrophobic.

Although the view from the front row of the upper circle, which I later discovered on press night isn't the best.

When we took the tour the studio theatre was still a work in progress but it too, containing 160 seats, is a good size. Smaller spaces give theatre an added power that's impossible to replicate in the big venues, as grand as their design may be.

The cinemas and the galleries are equally welcoming and the galleries, with their airy informality, should be a huge hit with visitors.

So what will Home bring to Manchester and beyond?

Dave Moutrey, chief executive, said: "We want Home to bring great contemporary art, theatre and film that you will not be able to see anywhere else that entertain our audiences and audience and engages then in conversations, discussion and debate.

"Home will be a truly independent voice and a place where our audiences can see exciting artists from the region, UK and the rest of the world who make great work and who are not short of an opinion.

"Alongside of this we have created a great place to hangout, dine on good pizza and drink great coffee."

Among Home's numerous aims is to develop the filmmaking skills of young people and Dave has this message for anyone who thinks the building isn't for them.

"First step is come on in," he added.

"Everyone who has been here so far finds the space and our team welcoming, comfortable and informal."

- Home can be found at 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester, and the box office is on 0161 200 1500. The venue is a five minute walk from Deansgate Castlefield tram stop and further information is available from homemcr.org

RICK BOWEN