A TEENAGE chef has been given a life-changing opportunity at a pop-up restaurant.

Daniel Doyle, from Whitefield, is one of 15 unemployed youngsters taken on a youth training scheme at EAT Pennines.

The 17-year-old helped dished up tasty delights at The Barlow in Edgworth for three nights over the weekend. There were two menus, one for Friday and Saturday, and one for Sunday.

Dishes included Lancashire hotpot, Portobello mushroom Wellington as well as sticky, steamed sponge pudding. Sunday’s menu included roasted chicken and all the Sunday trimmings.

Daniel said: “I didn’t really fit in at school and ended up in a bad position, I was locked away for a while. This has given me the opportunity to do something good and learn how to work around a kitchen.”

Glen Duckett, director at EAT Pennines, said: “It’s gone really well, everybody seemed to really like the food and commented how the service was great. We work with young people who might be marginalised in some way, whether they have a disability or perhaps been to prison.”

EAT Pennines chooses a community location and the young people spend their whole weekend running the pop-up restaurant, which is a culmination of a 14 to 16-week course.

“A lot of the young people we work with might not have engaged well academically,” added Mr Duckett. But the hospitality industry is very practical and really gives them the opportunity to shine and to build up their confidence.”

John Harwood, general manager at The Barlow, said: “It’s a really exciting project.

“There were some very nice reviews on Facebook and in person when people were on their way out. There wasn’t one person who didn’t enjoy it.