MANCHESTER'S glitterati will have a new hangout when the Art Lounge opens in October.

Entrepreneur Veejay Lingiah has agreed terms with the Triangle's bosses to open a 2,500 sq ft commercial art gallery at the front of the city centre retail complex within two months.

There has been an Art Lounge in Birmingham for three-and-a-half years and its client list includes supermodel Jodie Kidd and football celebrity Ian Wright.

Now Veejay is hoping to get glamorous Mancunians interested in buying contemporary art inspired by 'urban living' ' while fostering local talent.

Veejay, 30, said: 'Although conceptual art is very big in Manchester, the commercial art scene is still quite immature. We're hoping to give people the opportunity to acquire good art, produced by Manchester-born artists, for as little as '50.

'We are aware that the Triangle has had some problems attracting trade in the past, but I think the new owners are moving in the right direction. Having Selfridges and Harvey Nichols here, I think a lot of trade is going to move from places like King Street to Exchange Square.

'The whole ethos is that it's a very accessible gallery space. People can just come in and look at the art, or spend from '50 to '50,000 with the help of trained art consultants in a plush setting.

We're falling in between Ikea and Habitat and those stuffy art galleries. We stock everything from sculpture right through to graffiti.'

The Art Lounge in Birmingham first showcased the work of Willard Wigan, the creator of the world's smallest sculptures, which fit into the eye of the needle and can only be viewed using a special optical gadget. Retailing at '15,000 and owned by the likes of Elton John and Prince Charles, Veejay describes them as 'the ultimate luxury'.

The gallery shows permanent collections of paintings, photography, glassware and ceramics, as well as books and cards. Buyers can commission a piece of art for '100.

The Art Lounge is seeking art consultants and artists from Manchester who are interested in exhibiting in the gallery. For information call the Art Lounge on 0121 685 2555.