Phuket's sands get swanky

First came the spas. Then it was pool villas. Now the must-have flash facility for five-star Phuket resorts is a beach club, and others are getting in on the act, too.

In recent months, a string of new resort-run or independent beach clubs have opened along Phuket’s Kata, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao and Nai Thon beaches, with more to come. 

In place of bamboo stands selling cheap beer under sun-bleached umbrellas now sit elaborately designed restaurants and lounges with air-conditioned wine cellars. Among the enticements are DJ beach parties, swimming pools, creative menus and VIP memberships.

More on CNNGo: Phuket's best pool villas and suites

These new ventures may gratify visitors seeking a picture-perfect backdrop for sunset cocktail hour, but they're sure to ramp up long-running debates about commercial activity along Phuket’s coastline. Controls and enforcement vary widely from beach to beach. 

In one recent striking example of Phuket’s bewildering beach regulations, a simple eatery on Karon Beach run by a local family for 20 years was declared illegal and demolished in a dramatic raid by 100 officials, while just up the coast on Surin another waterfront restaurant was merrily planting new coconut palms and piling up pontoons for its own floating pier.

Local officials posted a sign ordering the removal of some items -- until another government department intervened and business continued as usual.  

As the battles for the beach rage on, for this season at least the fabulous wine-and-dine set is busy staking its claim to the Phuket shoreline. 

Here's a run-down of Phuket’s new and renewed beach clubs, in no particular order.   

Bliss Beach Club, Bang Tao Beach

Bliss aims to be Phuket beach party central with Sunday brunches and international DJs including Steven Lee, Chris Samba and LTJ Bukem lined up to play.

The popular Soundwave Sunday parties moved here from Laem Singh Beach. 

Blissbeachclub.com, +66 (0) 76 510151. Email: info@blissbeachclub.com

 Bluesiam Beachclub, Bang Tao Beach

Antique and art dealer Charoen Sasiluksananukul, best known for sprucing up the Amanpuri and other Phuket luxury villas, sat on a fine piece of beachfront land for a decade before opening this restaurant, lounge and wedding venue.

Immaculate tropical gardens lead to a large wooden beachfront terrace sprinkled with Buddha statues and other Thai works of art. 

Facebook.com/Bluesiam, +66 (0) 76 386595. Email: bluesiam_beachclub@hotmail.com

Xana Beach Club, Bang Tao Beach 

Set within the sprawling, genteel grounds of the Laguna resort enclave, the newly opened Angsana Laguna Phuket comes complete with pool villas, a spa and, yes, ambitious plans for a beach club.

Run by Singapore’s Attica entertainment group, Xana will feature an Olympic-sized swimming pool, private party cabanas and Hi-So club nights. Set to open April 2012. 

Angsana.com/en/phuket, +66 (0) 76 324101. Email: reservations-lagunaphuket@angsana.com

RE KÁ TA at The Boathouse, Kata Beach 

The grande old dame of Phuket resorts has entered the beach club scene with the opening of RE KÁ TA as part of its US$6 million makeover.

Designed by Fredo Taffin, the man behind the KU DE TA club in Bali, RE KÁ TA offers a small pool, spa, trendy "living" cuisine and a hefty cocktail and wine menu.

Boathousephuket.com, +66 (0) 76 330015-7. Email: info@boathousephuket.com

Andara Beach Club, Kamala Beach 

About the only thing Hong Kong tycoon Allan Zeman’s plush hillside Andara villa resort didn’t have was a beach, so they've now carved out their own space on the Kamala sands.

With just a simple stand selling cold drinks and some double sunbeds, so far it’s a beach club in name only. 

Andaraphuket.com, +66 (0) 76 338777. Email: reservations@andaraphuket.com

Catch Beach Club, Surin Beach 

Perhaps looking over its shoulder at all the up-and-comers, this sleek four-year-old club operated by Twinpalms Phuket Resort is expanding and revitalizing, adding lavish buffet meals and new membership packages.

The club’s regular White Parties bring in huge crowds of beach frolickers. 

Catchbeachclub.com, +66 (0) 76 316567. Email: book@catchbeachclub.com

IndoChine Surin Beach Club, Surin Beach 

Opened late 2008 as Stereolab, the club’s DJ dance nights attracted island revelers and the attention of the IndoChine resort in Kalim, which brought it in under the resort brand last year.

It serves up daily food and drink specials and chill-out music every Sunday.  

Indochinephuket.com, +66 (0) 76 360860. Email: fb@indochinephuket.com

Up at Malaiwana, Nai Thon Beach

The Malaiwana villa and apartment estate operates a casual beach club in a secluded cove at the south end of Nai Thon, and a second, more upscale club is due to open up the hill by the new year.

The aptly named Up club features a pool, spa and al fresco dining. 

Malaiwana.com, +66 (0) 76 316 225. Email: info@malaiwana.com