A London pub mentioned on Taylor Swift’s new album said the sudden international recognition was “surreal” – and had received “thousands of requests” from fans wanting to buy merchandise.
The Black Dog in Vauxhall was name-checked on the US singer’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, and fans have already been flocking to the pub with many buying pint glasses as souvenirs.
The pub said its security had been increased and expects more fans to visit during June and August when Swift is set to perform at Wembley Stadium as part of her Eras Tour.
Staff also urged the US singer to visit the pub and stop by for a drink.
The pub told Sky News it was exploring ways to create merchandise to showcase their new links with Swift – and was also looking into the possibility of launching a beer dedicated to the American superstar.
Amy Cowley, marketing consultant for the pub, said: “We’re really happy to ride this wave. It has been surreal.
“We have received thousands of requests from Taylor Swift’s fans regarding merchandise, so we are setting up a dedicated email address for people to contact us on.
“People just want things to show they have been to the pub, or to have something associated with The Black Dog.
“But the weekend was very busy. We had to turn people away because so many wanted to come in. We needed extra security to deal with it all.
“Taylor Swift has nine nights at Wembley in the summer, so we’re preparing for that already.
“It would be something if she would come down to the pub and have a drink with us. We would love to do something fun with her.”
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She said staff had checked CCTV footage to see if Swift had been to the pub with her former boyfriends, but “the answer is they absolutely could have been, but we’re just not entirely sure”.
A track on the album, called The Black Dog, directly references a “bar” of the same name in the lyrics.
Swift sings: “And your location, you forgot to turn it off. And so I watch as you walk. Into some bar called The Black Dog. And pierce new holes in my heart.”
What do the lyrics in Swift’s new album mean?
The tracklist for Swift’s record has already offered hints on whether songs refer to her English ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn.
Fans have also speculated whether the pub is a reference to The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, with whom she briefly had a relationship.
Ms Cowley said they were leaving it to the fans to work out the references on the album: “If anybody can crack it, it’s [the Swifties], right?”
The pub has been stocking more pint glasses after fans bought them as souvenirs – and said the international attention had given their trade a huge boost.
“The fans are really supportive. Everyone has been keen to sample the atmosphere,” added Ms Cowley.
“We’re a small team and a well-loved team. It has been a tough industry in recent years, but we’ve been one of the lucky ones.
“But this has given us another big boost and is like the icing on the cake, really.”
Source Agencies
