VIDEO: Watch our special film of what happened when five apprentices were asked to prepare a three course meal at prestigious The Kennels at Goodwood

If Lord Sugar, who hosts the BBC’s iconic The Apprentice, had been amongst the diners I wouldn’t mind betting the only words he would have been saying at the end of the meal was ‘You’re hired.’

Just like the tasks that the TV contestants have to perform, this assignment was a really challenging gig for these culinary hopefuls. But the judges they had to impress were the toughest of them all – paying guests, family members, Goodwood’s top management including CEO Chris ‘Woody’ Woodgate, and the Chichester Observer.

That the five sailed through the evening without a single discernible blunder was a huge credit to them, those who have helped them on their journey, and The Kennels’ Head Chef, Dan Turner who kept a watchful eye on them throughout.

When I visited the kitchen at the start of the evening it was extraordinarily calm. That didn’t change – although all five admitted to feeling the pressure, as they reveal in our film.

Hayden Diltoer (22) was head chef for the evening. Asked what it had been like he agreed it had definitely been high pressure. “But from the reactions of everyone it has been a good evening and everyone is happy.”

The other four apprentices were Sion Gillespie (20), Sam Spooner (19), Josh Bolton (18) and Brandon Burley (18). Sion said: “I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s been an amazing experience that I couldn’t get anywhere else.”

Brandon agreed that the kitchen was very calm. “But that was because everyone had everything prepped. It wasn’t like a TV series with everyone shouting in the kitchen!”

The five took inspiration from the seasonal produce available with many of the ingredients sourced from Goodwood’s own Home Farm.

As a result, the meal featured Southdown lamb faggot, slow cooked pork belly, apple and pear crumble, estate cheese, and vegetarian alternatives.

The West Sussex estate is in a unique position to offer unrivalled experiences including behind the scenes access to their world-famous events and exclusive masterclasses run by the talented Head Chefs that work across the estate. As a key employer in the region, Goodwood works closely with a number of educational and training establishments to offer placements across the busy estate, including HIT Hospitality Academy, Chichester College, Portsmouth College, Keits, Yuzu Training and CT Skills.