Location: Linlithgow, Scotland
Address: Part of the Champany Inn in West Lothian (EH49 7LU)
Website: http://www.champany.com/chop-and-ale-house/
Type of Meal: Lunch
Address: Part of the Champany Inn in West Lothian (EH49 7LU)
Website: http://www.champany.com/chop-and-ale-house/
Type of Meal: Lunch
Located in a secluded street in Linlithgow, Champany unfortunately doesn’t have a street address so if you're interested in visiting please either contact the inn or hire Discreet Scotland Tours to find more exact coordinates.
Aside from
the Chop and Ale House, Champany Inn also houses a separate fine dining
restaurant, a wine shop with extensive offerings (for consumption off premises)
and an inn if you need a longer break. The Chop and Ale House is
eclectically decorated with low ceilings, homely wooden tables, a seemly
gigantic stone fireplace and trinkets galore on every surface possible. Even their toilets offer an opportunity for
discussion with its pull flush handles.
But, the
rustic environment isn’t what brings visitors to the Champany Inn; it’s the
highly regarded steak and burgers that draws the crowds. I opted for their
cheese burger (£13.50) made from with Scotch beef formed into a large plump
patty. The beef is juicy and tender but
less flavourful than the Canadian Black Angus counterparts. Personally, I found
the beef was overpowered by the generous amount of shredded sharp cheddar
topping the patty; this isn’t necessarily bad just a matter of preference as to
what you want to stand out. Overall, it was a good hearty burger and what may
be thought of a “man’s” burger – simply made with a thick patty, tons of cheese
and ketchup all on a soft sesame bun.
The burger is
a filling meal served with a side dish of spring mix, tomato wedges &
creamy coleslaw as well as a basket of chips (aka fries) to share amongst the
table. Not realizing that all burgers
come with salad and fries, I had asked for my chips to be substituted
for salad. The outcome was another side
of salad made with spring mix, cherry tomatoes and sunflower seeds, which was
strangely called a Greek salad despite not an ounce of feta in sight.
The Chop and
Ale House offers reasonably priced drinks with pints at about £3.70 and a glass
of wine for £5. Surprisingly, this is almost the same price as the coffee
which is £2.95, comparatively.
Although a
very decent burger, it’s not one that’s worth the drive. But, if you happen to be in the area it’s a great
pit stop, especially since nothing else is in sight.
Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
