These include Movida - the word means 'party' in Cuban street slang - which will play live world music and Mono, a karaoke venue with plush interiors.

Dragonfly will feature a medley of live Chinese tunes, R&B grooves and trance music while the Bellini Room is a Swing Bar.

And if you are not already spoilt for choice, Lifebrandz, the company behind the Ministry of Sound, is investing over S$8 million in six entertainment outlets to be opened by December.

Five will be at Clarke Quay, and Cafe Del Mar, regarded by many as one of the world's most iconic chill out bars, will be at Sentosa.

Calvin Sio, Marketing Manager, The Cannery at Clarke Quay, Lifebrandz, says: "What we are going to build up next is Hed Kandi's Kandi Bar. Hed Kandi is a dance brand, a very popular dance label. We've got Buddha Bar's B* Fly* which essentially is a restaurant and a bar from Paris. There is also an Italian restaurant called Bice which we are going to bring in. And of course, the very famous Fashion TV's Fashion Bar, FBar we call it."

Dennis Foo, CEO, The St James, says: "In any industry, there must be competition, if there is no competition, there is no progress. There are a lot of professionals, managers, executives and businessmen who actually have nowhere to go - we created St James for them."

When asked about the shaking up of the nightlife scene, Zouk's Marketing Manager Tracy Phillips said: "When these outlets first open, they will probably have a small impact on our business since it is only human nature that people would want to check out anything new. In the long run, we believe we do have a very loyal following who would eventually come back to Zouk. Also, getting more people to appreciate electronic dance music of all genres will only widen the slice of the pie in our once very niche market when we first started 15 years ago."

Smaller establishments too say they are unfazed by the battle for the fun dollar.

Michel Lu just opened Hacienda in Dempsey Road, an area fast becoming a choice location for the hip and happening.

And even Little India has trendy clubs lodged between shop houses selling spices.

Hai, Manager, Bar Baa Black Chic in Little India, says: "When you name brand names, they are branded for a reason - if assuming you don't have mainstream, you will never be able to get alternatives. I think people are perpetually looking for alternatives. The people that come here, you get producers, DJs, the media people."

Alcohol companies are also toasting to the nightlife scene.

Diageo, a global alcohol company, opened a S$13 million regional logistics hub in Singapore earlier in the week.

The centre will handle 3.5 million cases of Diageo beverages in its first year, growing to 6 million cases in 2007 and 8 million in subsequent years.

Diageo carries the Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys brands and others wines, spirits and beers.

Champagne company, Moet & Chandon, says Singapore is its most important market in Asia.

"Singapore is important because of finance, the power of Singapore goes beyond the country, so if you are strong in Singapore, you might also be strong in the rest of Asia." said Jean Berchon, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Moet & Chandon.

So can Singapore be the clubbing capital of the region?

Many clubbers say the country is well on its way.

The Singapore Tourism Board sees entertainment as a key sector that will help bring in 17 million visitors to spend S$30 billion by 2015. - CNA/ch


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