"IT'S best when every hotel has its own story." That's the opening sentence on the Best Western hotel collection brochure and the hotel we visited recently certainly has a story to tell.

The Best Western Webbington Hotel, situated prominently on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, a short drive from Junction 22 of the M5 and close to Weston-super-Mare, was once the Webbington Country Club.

It was here in the sixties and seventies that top cabaret stars made regular appearances, attracting thousands from all over the West Country to its spacious entertainment venue.

The owner at the time, a Mr David Wells, decided to convert the Edwardian manor to provide the district with something new in the way of out-of-town dining and entertainment.

Back in the sixties, his son Alan ran the Webbington Country Club as one of the brightest nightspots in the South West. Membership was two guineas a year, which would cover full use of the facilities and include the nightly dancing to the resident band and cabaret spot.

Many famous names played the club during this time including Freddie Starr, Bob Monkhouse, PJ Proby, The Drifters, The Rocking Berries, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Acker Bilk, Tommy Cooper, Gene Pitney and Jane Mansfield to name but a few.

Today the hotel has been transformed into a top spa hotel with a brand new heated swimming pool, fully equipped gym, sauna and steam room as well as a resident beautician Sue Gale.

Pampering sessions include facials, air brush tanning, manicures and pedicures and the new hot stone massage technique which uses basil stones.

The former cabaret rooms have been renovated into extensive conference rooms for up to 1,000 delegates with a choice of seven meeting rooms.

The hotel has 54 individually designed bedrooms, all tastefully furnished, and guests can also enjoy the facilities of a fully-equipped gym, where the heated swimming pool and adjoining sun lounge have spectacular panoramic views.

Other facilities include the floodlit tennis courts on both hard courts and grass.

Dinner time takes you to the stunning oak-panelled Tiark restaurant, with an extensive three and four course dinner menu at a reasonably priced £19.50.

Manager Andy Skinner is excited at the now completed renovation at the Webbington.

He said: "It is a complete new image. Visitors can now enjoy the best of comfort and cuisine in outstanding surroundings and we pride ourselves on having really helpful staff making sure guests come first."

For those who used to attend the Webbington for its cabaret evenings, receptionist Kath Woodward has opened a book for those wishing to record their memories of the former nightspot.

She said: "I think it is important to keep these memories surrounding the Webbington, otherwise they would be lost in time. After all its it all part of our colourful history."

Contact Kath at the hotel if you would like to share your memories of the Webbington.

For more details call the Best Western Webbington Hotel, at Loxton, Axbridge, Somerset on 08457 73 73 73 or email info@webbingtonhotel.eclipse.co.uk