It was wildly successful, the first alcoholic drink to be advertised on TV and played a huge part in Shepton Mallet's history - and now, it's back.

Babycham, known for being the pioneering drink targeted at women, became a cultural phenomenon in Britain and is now seeking a resurgence. With its signature "Bambi" deer logo and goblet-shaped glasses, the sparkling perry was created 70 years ago and quickly garnered a huge following.

Babycham had a significant impact on the economy of Shepton Mallet during its heyday. The drink was produced in the town at the Babycham factory, which employed hundreds of local people. The factory was a major employer in the town, and its success helped to support other local businesses.

In addition, Babycham was heavily marketed and distributed across the UK, which helped to raise the profile of Shepton Mallet and put the town on the map.

The sparkling perry drink was invented by Francis Showering, a local innkeeper and brewer, in the 1950s.

The drink targeted women who wanted a light drink with a touch of glamour, while men drank pints. Babycham was a marketing phenomenon in the 1960s and 70s, and its slogan "I'd love a Babycham!" is still burned into many of our brains.

The Showering family, who have been in the drinks industry for 14 generations, own the Babycham brand and have recently returned production to the old Shepton Mallet headquarters and plan to give the drink a new lease of life among a younger audience who have embraced cider in recent years.

Matthew Showering, of the Showering brewing dynasty whose grandfather, Francis Showering, invented Babycham, said: 'We will get closer to the original production method and recipe, as some things got chiselled away for speed with mass production.

'And we are going towards the original look too, so we'll have quite a retro feel which, oddly, will make it more modern.' 

Speaking to the Observer, he said he believes Babycham's original attributes were what made it a success, 'so it's important to stick with that. It's why it took off'.

He believes the perry will be able to hold its own against 'dry' sparkling wines including Prosecco and Champagne - and hopefully attract a younger following.

Mr Showering told The Guardian: 'If you were to put a Babycham and a prosecco, or even a Champagne, side by side, there are an awful lot of people who would actually prefer the Babycham, because it hasn't got that dry rasp.' He added: 'We want to keep that sense of celebration about it.

'Back then, nearly all drinks were sold in pubs, and Babycham were the masters of point-of-sale marketing. You'd have a glass there on show and maybe a little deer on the bar.' 

The Showering family story is that Francis asked a neighbouring French au pair what "pear" was in French and so dubbed his new drink "Champagne de Poire". The drink started winning prizes at agricultural shows, and the little bottles picked up the nickname "baby champ".

Mr Showering said: 'The family really hit the jackpot with Babycham, and it meant that it became quite a big company that was able to go on to buy other brands like Britvic and Harveys. But then it was merged with Allied Breweries in 1968.

"We are already receiving extremely positive feedback on the decision by many who consider it a 'sleeping giant' within the drinks industry. It's a sentimental brand, not only for our family, but for families across the nation who associate Babycham with fond memories and celebratory milestones.

"We want to share the brand's fun, sparkly and aspirational persona with new and familiar customers. Babycham is a quality brand that is extremely well-known in the UK and this acquisition is an incredible opportunity to harness our roots and heritage. We're confident in the brand's future and it feels like the perfect time to modernise this classic with an exciting new relaunch."

The brand has now been acquired by Brothers Drinks Co. Ltd as part of its future plans and strategy following impressive growth in 2021. Brothers Drinks Co. Ltd, which produces its own range of beverages as well as cider, beer, spirits and soft drinks for other companies, will add Babycham to its portfolio. The acquisition comes after the company purchased Kilver Court, the ancestral family home of the Showering family.