BLACKPOOL'S bold 10-year plan has produced its first big investment -- and it could prompt a battle royal between three of the town's top nightclubs next year.

The Palace Nightclub has changed hands and will get a revamp costing almost £3million in time for next summer. And the new owners, Springwood Leisure of Leicestershire, says it's thanks to Blackpool's brighter future.

The deal comes just as the former ABC cinema is being re-modelled as a nightclub -- The Syndicate -- which claims to be the biggest in England and is costing £4million to set up.

And at the same time the Waterfront club will close in January for a £2.8million relaunch in the spring.

But Springwood is a company with club interests across the country and company secretary Mr Mike Marley said: "We are refurbishing the Palace to make it into the best club in Blackpool over the winter.

"We believe it's healthy competition."

He added: "I think Blackpool is a place that's ripe for refurbishment and expansion. There is a lot of discussion about it being an up and coming venue and higher standards are bound to come into the town.

"We have had discussions about development coming to Blackpool which has got to change to be at the forefront of the leisure sector."

Springwood have yet to finalise details of their Palace revamp but, in their other venues nationwide, there is likely to be an African theme with the name Zanzibar.

Joe Curran of The Syndicate countered: "They're confident but the bottom line is down to the customer. They will make a choice. It's good to see people investing in the town.

"We have a good product but whether it is a success is down to the customer."

At the Waterfront, acting general manager Matthew Paxton said that their investment was a coincidence but added: The Waterfront is ready for refurbishment in any case. When you get other clubs revamping, you don't want to be left behind.

"If other people are brightening up their act we have to keep pace."