Champany Inn is a family-owned restaurant with boutique hotel rooms in Linlithgow, West Lothian, founded by Anne and Clive Davidson and now run by the second generation—Jason and Bridget Davidson.
- Founded: January 1983
- Family ownership: Davidson family (first and second generation)
- Location: Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland
- Known for: Charcoal-grilled Scottish beef, serious wine, and warm hospitality
How Champany Began
Champany Inn was established by my parents, Clive and Anne Davidson, in January 1983.
Drawing on Clive’s South African heritage and his love for the braai, and Anne’s wealth of experience in hospitality, together they built a Steakhouse of international renown.
Their approach was simple: choose the best of Scottish beef and cook it as simply as possible on the charcoal grill.
Clive’s great love of wine, particularly the wines of South Africa, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Spain, drove him to establish a Cellar of which we are justifiably proud of today. Wine remains a significant strand of the business today.
It was my mother’s energy, and her remarkable style of hospitality, that brought everything together. She laid the foundations for the warm Champany experience you receive today.
Clive and Anne have both now passed away. My father died more than ten years ago, and my mother, Anne, passed away in late 2025.
Their drive to protect Champany’s individuality and professionalism over more than forty years remains at the core of our business.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy has never changed: cook the best Scottish produce simply, serve great wine, and deliver the warm Champany welcome.
Carrying The Tradition Forward
The Davidson Family continue to own and run Champany Inn.
It remains our home.
Champany’s rich heritage of charcoal grilled beef, Scottish salmon, great wine and warm hospitality continues.
Today, Champany is led by Jason and Bridget Davidson.
As you enter the 17th-century courtyard a blue signpost greets you. The whitewashed buildings at Champany Corner, Linlithgow, West Lothian now play host to different parts of the business. Each part complementary to the others. The signpost guides you.
Two Restaurants
Champany has two separate restaurants on site.
The Restaurant at Champany is our flagship dining room.
The Chop and Ale House is a separate restaurant. It is a smaller, more informal steakhouse, ideal for family dining. This bistro-style restaurant specialises in homemade burgers, boerewors, fish and chips and Champany’s famous steaks.
Bedrooms and The Wine Shop
Across the Courtyard, the addition of fourteen elegant bedrooms created a Restaurant with Rooms. Rich colours and a distinctly Scottish touch create a calm, restful feel. A place to escape.
The final piece of the Champany jigsaw is The Wine Shop, our small wine and whisky shop. It specialises in the wines of South Africa alongside a selection from around the world. Particular emphasis is placed on our Champany Label Cape Wines, produced by some of South Africa’s leading family-owned wineries.
You Are Always Welcome
Bridget and I extend a warm invitation to visit us at Champany, to escape to the countryside and enjoy great steaks, fine wine and good times.
Recognition
- “An accolade-laden restaurant … The best Aberdeen Angus beef hung for three weeks and butchered on premises. Good service, huge helpings, superb steaks and burgers.” Scotland the Best. Peter Irvine.
- “One of Scotland’s great culinary gems” - Richard Bath, Scotland on Sunday
- Champany was named Restaurant of the Year Outside London 2017 by The Food and Travel Awards
- John Lanchester of Esquire Magazine wrote, “The best steak I’ve ever eaten is served at the Champany Inn outside Linlithgow in Scotland: a truly outstanding restaurant and one I would recommend unreservedly.”
Some of the more notable awards from the earlier years of Champany:
- The CIS Excellence Awards named Champany Restaurant of the Year in 2014.
- The Catey Award for Wine 2004 by Caterer and Hotelkeeper Magazine, the Oscars of the UK restaurant industry.
- A particular honour when fellow restaurateurs awarded ”Meat Restaurant of the Year” at the Restaurateurs’ Restaurant of the Year Awards in 1999.
- In 1985 The Egon Ronay Guide awarded Champany Wine Cellar of the Year.
- Courvoisier’s Book of the Best named Champany as “One of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World.”