The display of men's shoes in the shop window must have passers-by scratching their head in puzzlement.

Try the door of Das Schuhzimmer in the daytime and it's firmly locked. What kind of shoe shop opens only three days a week... at 5.30pm?

The truth is, it's not a place where you can buy a pair of size 10s, gentlemen.

Instead the fake facade, in Chilwell, is a front for the area's first secret cocktail bar, a cosy hideaway with space for just 32.

Das Schuhzimmer
Das Schuhzimmer

And as of this month, the secret bar now has a secret kitchen. Each month different street food vendors will be in residence, Friday and Saturday, to satisfy the appetite of drinkers.

Currently it's Taste of Korea, a name regulars at Nottingham Street Food Club, in intu Victoria Centre will be familiar with.

They're serving tofu or beef bimimbap, or teriyaki chicken, which has a spicy option.

Bimimbap from Taste of Korea at Das Schuhzimmer
Bimimbap from Taste of Korea at Das Schuhzimmer

The £15 tickets, which have to be bought in advance, include a main course and a drink from a list which pairs with the style of food, currently yuzu and pear soju cocktail, a pint of Asahi, non-alcoholic Spicy Bae or a glass of house wine.

Takeovers for July and August are currently being organised. There are two sittings from 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Owner James Thomas said: "Each trader will have a meaty and a vegan option.

"We tend to be filling up at 7.30pm quite quickly. We've already sold out this Friday and have a few tables left for Saturday. It's really popular and the feedback has been very good."

When the secret bar opened at the end of last year it didn't go down the usual path of piquing interest by splashing it all over social media platforms.

Even though Nottinghamshire Live had got wind of it, James wanted to wait and see how popular it would be simply through word of mouth.

Cocktails at Das Schuhzimmer
Cocktails at Das Schuhzimmer

He said: "I wanted to keep it secret to see how effective word of mouth was. Some secret bars promotes themselves all over social media before they open.

"It was really exciting to open a secret bar. We didn't announce an opening date and only told a few people. It was a case of pushing the door and finding out we were open. Each weekend became busier as people were coming back with their friends.

"It was really interesting in a world, where social media is the most important marketing tool, to have an old-skool speakeasy."

You could say the cover has now been blown, at least locally, and word is spreading further afield via Instagram and Facebook.

James also runs The Berliner, next door, a bigger, louder, livelier bar which is packed to the rafters at weekends. When a sewing shop next door become available (they've moved upstairs) it was the ideal opportunity to expand, with a new concept.

Teriyaki chicken from Taste of Korea at Das Schuhzimmer
Teriyaki chicken from Taste of Korea at Das Schuhzimmer

He said: "Das Schuhzimmer has a different vibe. It's very intimate, a quiet drink with friends or date night kind of place."

The name in German means 'the shoe room' - and it's partly down to the endless comments of locals on Beeston Updated's Facebook page.

"There were always people saying when is there a shoe shop opening, and my grandad had a shoe shop in the 70s called Rose Shoes so I thought let's have a bit of fun."

The bar also opens Thursdays, just for drinks, and occasionally for special events on Wednesdays, including a monthly Tipsy Cinema Club and tasting events - the next is a single malt whisky tasting night led by expert Matt Chambers on June 19.

Tickets for the secret kitchen and all other events are available on eventbrite.co.uk