‘Matriarch’ of Champany Inn Anne Davidson dies

Anne Davidson, owner of Champany Inn in West Lothian and a pioneering force in the Scottish hospitality industry, has died aged 79.

Davidson passed away peacefully at home on 18 November, nine years after the death of her husband Clive Davidson, with whom she ran the hotel in Linlithgow.

Anne was born in Dundee in 1946, daughter of the late Stanley and Margaret Soutar, sister to Graeme, Alan and the late Polly.

Driven by her passion for cooking from an early age, she chose to study hospitality management at Robert Gordon’s Catering College in Aberdeen.

While working in London for her first job at the Westminster Theatre, she met her future husband Clive. The pair married in 1969 and moved to South Africa.

In 1974, they returned to Scotland and opened Wyndales House Hotel in Lanarkshire, where they offered South African braai cooking.

In 1977, the couple moved into Edinburgh to oversee the Beehive pub in Grassmarket. 

The couple took over the Champany Inn in January 1983 and grew the business to include 16 bedrooms, a fine dining steakhouse, the Chop & Ale House bistro and wine shop.

As well as receiving a Catey award for wine in 1990, the restaurant secured a Michelin star in 2008, which it held for three years.

A Facebook post from Champany Inn said: “Affectionally known as ‘Mrs D’, she was the matriarch of our Champany family, and will be terribly missed.

“Champany was her world, and those that worked alongside her, as well as suppliers and her customers - you brought her so much joy and purpose.

“She will always be remembered as a devoted, energetic and kind host who was an inspiration to many who knew her.”

Anne is survived by her children, Jason, Anna and Lucy and her granddaughter Mirren.

The business remains under family ownership and is being led by Jason.

A public memorial service will be taking place early next year, more details of which will be published at a later date.

Please send your tributes to Anne to jungmin.seo@thecaterer.com.