WELL, IT'S FINALLY HERE, and visitors to the centre seem to be unanimous in their praise. Others are less positive - Manchester city councillors, including Richard Leese and Pat Karney have been voicing their opposition for a long time. The Civic Society, whose magazine Forum is just out (online soon), is also very critical of the centre.

I have mixed feelings: I was impressed by the amount of traditional style ornamentation. It's a pastiche of Classical, Byzantine and Egyptian designs. Thousands of pounds has been spent on gold leaf both inside and outside the centre. The interior palm trees, pot plants and classical sculptures call to mind the 1851 Crystal Palace or Kew Gardens, though the effect is spoilt a little by the "colour-by-numbers" wall paintings and plastic plants.

But as I stood inside the centre, I felt as if I was teleported back to Dubai, and I'm not sure if I liked the feeling. Manchester expats visiting from the States may well feel they're back where they just came from. Themed areas modelled on exotic parts of the world such as Egypt, New Orleans and Venice help you imagine you're somewhere else, but actually, I'm quite happy to be in Manchester.

As with many mass-market features of modern-day life, such as mainstream TV, the tabloid press, fast food restaurants and supermarket chains, professional critics are against them, but the public love them. So who's right? Take the interior decor of the Trafford Centre for example - I'm sure that most contemporary designers will hate the multi-coloured neo-Classical ornamentation, preferring the spartan, miminalist look seen in city centre bars and loft conversions. But I'm equally sure the general public will love the old-fashioned decor, and if that's what the public genuinely wants, then I think they should get it.

Personally, I'll be staying with Manchester city centre - it's more convenient, more varied, more interesting, and it's a real environment with centuries of history and character. But I imagine I'll make the occasional trip to the Trafford Centre, though I'm not sure if I'll be buying: The prices in Debenhams appeared to be higher than in their Manchester city centre store.

More pictures and some QTVR's of the Trafford Centre, to follow soon