Taylor Swift fans descend on London pub name-checked on album

Customers sit outside The Black Dog pub, believed by its owners to have been referenced in lyrics in the song The Black Dog by Taylor Swift, in London, Britain, April 22, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

LONDON—Taylor Swift fans are flocking to The Black Dog, a pub in southwest London, after it was name-checked on the US singer’s new album “The Tortured Poet’s Department.”

Lily Bottomley, the pub’s events and social media manager, said the buzz started online last week before the double album was released on Friday, with “The Black Dog” confirmed as the 17th track.

People stand outside The Black Dog pub, believed by its owners to have been referenced in lyrics in the song The Black Dog by Taylor Swift, in London, Britain, April 22, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

She had to call in staff to cope with demand, and the pub in the city’s Vauxhall district has capitalized on its new-found fame with a “Swift” burger and “(Taylor’s Version)” cocktails.

Bar supervisor Hattie makes an ‘Aperol Spritz (Taylor’s Version)’ drink at The Black Dog pub, believed by its owners to have been referenced in lyrics in the song The Black Dog by Taylor Swift, in London, Britain, April 22, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Bottomley could not be absolutely certain her Black Dog was the same one mentioned, but she said there had previously been a “certain blonde regular” at the pub.

Swift describes her 11th studio album on Instagram as: “An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time.”

A view of a ‘Swift burger’ at The Black Dog pub, believed by its owners to have been referenced in lyrics in the song The Black Dog by Taylor Swift, in London, Britain, April 22, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Fans largely believe it is about her former British boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Swift has referenced other London locations in her songs that sparked interest in where the couple had spent time in the British capital.

They split in April 2023 after six years of dating.

“We’re a very cozy small neighborhood pub, so something like this happening is a dream,” Bottomley said. “We’re just so thankful to the fans because they’ve just been amazing.”

A person takes images of lyrics from the song The Black Dog by Taylor Swift, written outside The Black Dog pub, believed by its owners to have been referenced in the track, in London, Britain, April 22, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Katie, a web developer and “Swifty” visiting from Northern Ireland for her birthday, said she liked going to places mentioned in songs.

“I was in New York last year, and I also did a little Taylor Swift walking tour by myself of the places that she’s mentioned there.”

Emilia, a masters student from Vienna, said she could picture Swift going to the pub. “I appreciate her because she’s lyrically a genius,” she said. —REUTERS

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