Taylor Swift fans are buzzing with excitement as they flock to The Black Dog, a pub in south-west London, after the establishment was mentioned on the American singer’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department.
The pub’s events and social media manager, Lily Bottomley, shared that the excitement began online before the album’s release on April 19, with The Black Dog confirmed as the 17th track. The pub has since seen a surge in visitors, prompting the need to call in extra staff to handle the demand.
Capitalizing on its newfound fame, The Black Dog has introduced a “Swift” burger and “(Taylor’s Version)” cocktails for fans to enjoy. While Bottomley couldn’t confirm if the pub mentioned in the album is indeed theirs, she hinted at a “certain blonde regular” who frequented the establishment in the past.
Swift described her 11th studio album as “an anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions, and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time.” Fans speculate that the album is inspired by her former British boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn, with references to London locations sparking interest in their past relationship.
The album, Poets, broke Spotify’s record for the most-streamed album in a single day this year, achieving the feat in less than 12 hours. Fans like Katie, a web developer from Northern Ireland, and Emilia, a masters student from Vienna, are drawn to visiting places mentioned in Swift’s songs, appreciating her lyrical genius.
The Black Dog pub is basking in the attention, with Bottomley expressing gratitude to the fans for their overwhelming support. As fans continue to flock to the pub, it seems that Taylor Swift’s music has once again brought people together in a unique and exciting way.