Ultimately, the four years Murchison spent with Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons remain the greatest influence on his career as chef and restaurateur. He took over as executive chef of L’Ortolan, a restaurant in Shinfield near Reading, in 2001. With Alan Murchison at the helm the restaurant received three AA rosettes, 8/10 in the Good Food Guide and a Michelin star in 2003, which it maintained until he moved on in 2014 to pursue other projects.