Staff at the ‘quaint’ south London pub, which has become an overnight hit after it was referenced in Taylor Swift‘s new album, have been forced to hire extra security staff as fan flock.
Swifties have descended on The Black Dog pub in Vauxhall after it was referenced in a Tortured Poets Department track of the same name.
But the taproom is struggling to keep up with demand and has had to buy in more branded glasses and open booking months in advance to deal with customers making a pilgrimage to the beerhouse according to The Times.
The influx of new customers has meant that the bar also regularly reaches capacity and even has to turn customers away.
But despite all the attention, staff are resorting to scouring CCTV to catch a glimpse of the Bad Blood singer after no one can remember her ever buying a drink at the bar.
A fan shows off her Taylor Swift t-shirt as she sit son a bench outside The Black Dog and enoys a pint
Fans have come from all over the world to have a pint at the pub in Vauxhall
Taylor Swift decorations can be seen behind the bar in the pub including an image of Swift looking like a religious icon
A look at all of the different mentions of areas in London in Swift’s new album the Tortured Poets Department
Fans have taken to TikTok to film themselves visiting the pub in honour of the songstress
Swifties’ initially speculated that The Black Dog – Track 17 on the album – was a metaphor for depression. But now that the lyrics are out, it actually seems to be a reference to a very specific spot in London – a freehouse in Vauxhall.
Even though they can’t remember seeing the All Too Well singer, the pub is making the most of its time in the spotlight.
The pub have been leaning into all the media attention, adding ‘home to tortured poets’ in its Instagram bio and making Instagram reels linked to the song and including quotes on signs outside.
The pub has been overrun with booking requests for a table during Swift’s Eras tour performances in London and are even considering introducing a bottomless brunch.
Fans have flocked to the pub to film themselves sipping on pints of beer and ordering from the Taylor- Swift-themed menu.
In the videos, which have gathered thousands of views, Taylor Swift lyrics and pictures of her can be seen decorating the interior of the listed building while customers gather on picnic benches outside.
Taylor Swift fans Jordan Ludwig (middle), 20, Kylee Ludwig (left), 20, and Katelyn Anziano (right), 20, outside the Black Dog
Connor Price, assistant manager at The Black Dog, poses for a picture inside
‘Swifties’ initially speculated that The Black Dog – Track 17 on the album – was a metaphor for depression
This is her first new album since the end of her six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn and, while she doesn’t mention Alwyn by name, speculation will be rife that tracks such as So Long, London are about him. Pictured together in 2019
Taylor Swift and Matty Healy seen leaving The Electric Lady studio in Manhattan on May 16, 2023
Twins Kylee and Jordan Ludwig and their friend Katelyn Anziano, all 20, visited the pub.
Kylee said: ‘As soon as we heard the lyrics and realised it was a real place, we knew we just had to come here. I mean, we can now say we were in The Black Dog on the day of its release.’
Katelyn added: ‘It’ll become part of Taylor Swift lore. Especially because it’s such a sad, emotional song.’
Jordan was particularly excited to visit The Black Dog and said she had already fallen in love with the new album.
‘I love Taylor’s more depressing songs, and for me Tortured Poets was the perfect mix of the production value of Midnights with the tone of folklore and evermore,’ she said.
‘I love it.’
The trio are all from the United States but have been studying abroad at London’s Arcadia University since January. They describe themselves as mega Swifties – and have all already been to The Eras Tour.
Swift fans have already started visiting pubs apparently named in her new album
Since the album was released fans were able to pinpoint the exact location of the song reference – a freehouse in Vauxhall
The Bad Blood songstress, 34 – who recently teased a ‘timetable’ to her fans ahead of the LP’s release – initially announced the album while attending the 2024 Grammys in February
Connor Price, assistant manager at The Black Dog, said the three students weren’t the only fans who have visited the pub.
He said: ‘We’ve already had quite a few groups. Some came in and asked for a vodka and Diet Coke, as that’s apparently Taylor’s favourite drink.
‘And last night we had a group in Taylor Swift t-shirts, which was before the whole song was even out.’
Mr Price, 36, said he’s hoping the mention might be good for business. He said: ‘At the moment, it’s all a bit of fun – people have been giving us Google reviews based on the song, which are mostly 5* so that’s good.
‘But we’re thinking we might get some more customers here around the time when Taylor’s tour comes to London, so that would be good.’
Aware of its Taylor Swift-related appeal, The Black Dog is even offering a special deal to fans.
Amy Cowley, 41, the pub’s marketing consultant, said: ‘We are running a deal for anyone who comes in and quotes a lyric from Taylor’s song. The first 100 through the door will get a free ‘Swift Half’ of Black Dog lager.
‘And, after that, the ”Swift Half” will be free with a purchase of food for a week.’
The Bolter Pub reference isn’t as explicit as the one relating to The Black Dog, but it’s still a track title – and fans have noticed
The Black Dog has capitalised on its newfound fame and included Taylor Swift-themed menu items including a Swift-inspired burger
Fans have taken to TikTok to discuss The Black Dog pub and some have even scrawled through its google reviews
Some fans have said the song hits close to home and others feel they have a personal connection with the story telling
The Black Dog isn’t the only Swift-related spot The friends have visited while in London.
Kylee said: ‘We’ve actually been living in Highgate, which is obviously mentioned in the song ”London Boy” and is around where Joe Alwyn is from. So we’ve really been immersed in the Taylor Swift culture.’
Another London pub which Swift may have referenced in her new album is The Bolter in The City.
The reference isn’t as explicit as the one relating to The Black Dog, but it’s still a track title – and fans have noticed.
Dan Block, the pub’s site manager, said: ‘We’ve had people in here asking if Taylor Swift has been in here. People have asked which table she sat at – who she was with.
‘Personally, I’m pretty sure she’s never been here, but we do have a karaoke bar downstairs so we’re ready if she does want to stop by.’
The sign at the pub’s entrance reads: ‘Have a Swift one.’
Another London pub – The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead – is also a confirmed Swift spot, with she and Alwyn spotted leaving the pub after what was believed to be their first public date.
One staff member, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I wasn’t working here at the time but I know that definitely happened.
‘There were photos of her inside near the bar. So we do sometimes get fans coming in asking if it’s true, asking if we saw her.
Dedicated Swiftie Philippa visited the pub and filmed her experience including the sign outside which read ‘Have a swift one’.
Staff at the pub said: ‘We get quite a few celebs here actually, especially in the summer. I’ve served a few in my time.’
Swift and Alwyn are said to have been looking for a house together in North London, so it’s no surprise the area has featured heavily in her lyrics.
The couple were said to be looking for a ‘house with a garden’ – with the location widely speculated to be Hampstead Heath.
Swift seems to confirm this in So Long, London, where she sings ‘you left me at the house by the Heath’.
Dedicated Swiftie Philippa filmed her visit to The Bolter pub including the sign outside which read ‘Have a swift one’.
Her pre-breakup song London Boy also namechecks the area, with Swift singing how Alwyn ‘took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates’ before comparing herself to ‘a Tennessee Stella McCartney on the Heath’.
Another North London landmark mentioned in the song is Camden Market, with the American singing how she enjoys walking there ‘in the afternoon’.
Further south, Shoreditch and Soho are named as places where she likes to walk.
Swift’s mention of ‘high tea’ and ‘stories from uni’ may not be anchored in any particular geography, but she does describe visits to the West End – no doubt a common haunt for her actor ex.
And South Londoners will be pleased to hear she ventures into the SW postcode, singing how she ‘enjoys nights in Brixton’.
In the song, which was intended as a bonus track to the Style singer’s album Tortured Poet’s Department and was later released as part of the anthology version, the singer says: ‘You forgot to turn it [your location] off,’ followed by, ‘And so I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog.’
Fans have speculated that the song is about high profile exes Joe Alwyn who she dated for six years and Matty Healy who she had a short-lived fling with in May and June of 2023.
