23 Apr 2024

Taylor Swift fans 'overwhelming' London pub The Black Dog

6:16 am on 23 April 2024
US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift arrives for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4, 2024. (Photo by Robyn BECK / AFP)

Photo: AFP/Robyn Beck

By Harry Low, BBC News

A south London pub named in the title of a track on Taylor Swift's new album has described the reaction as "crazy".

The Black Dog in Vauxhall has been swamped after fans realised it was the subject of a song on her 11th album.

Event manager Lily Bottomley described the Swifties' reaction as "amazing" and "overwhelmingly positive".

The Black Dog is the 17th track on The Tortured Poets Department, which last week broke Spotify's record for the most-streamed album in a single day.

Speaking to the BBC, Bottomley revealed that Swift had previously come to the pub herself and said the venue was now offering Swift-themed burgers and cocktails.

She said: "We're just loving it, it's been so fun. All of the attention has been pretty overwhelming but we can't be happier."

The lyrics "And so I watch as you walk - into some bar called The Black Dog - and pierce new holes in my heart" appear in the first verse of the song.

The 34-year-old, who has four Album of the Year Grammy awards, sings of spotting an ex - who had forgotten to turn off his location-sharing - going into the venue.

Asked about the appeal of the pub to the global superstar, Bottomley said: "The Black Dog is a beautiful neighbourhood pub.

"It's really small and really cosy so I can imagine the neighbourhood feel, the community, would appeal to her. Obviously, being as famous as she is [it's] maybe a nice break.

"We've had [the album] on non-stop on the pub. We've had singalongs from fans. It's been amazing."

- This story was first published by the BBC