Current:Home > MarketsWhy Swifties have sniffed out and descended upon London's Black Dog pub -SecureWealth Bridge
Why Swifties have sniffed out and descended upon London's Black Dog pub
View
Date:2025-04-12 18:32:34
London — "And so, I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog and pierce new holes in my heart."
As Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" album continues breaking records, that ambiguous reference in the song "The Black Dog" has elevated a small London pub of the same name to new heights.
The moody lyrics from the 34-year-old superstar allude to watching an ex-partner who had forgotten to turn off his location setting on his phone going to the bar.
As soon as the album — which by Thursday had broken Spotify's streaming record with more than 1 billion streams — dropped last week, devoted fans of the American songstress nailed down the whereabouts of the unassuming British watering hole, and they descended upon it.
It didn't take self-proclaimed Swifties long to establish that her British ex-boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn, lives near Vauxhall, not far from the local pub.
"We have had to turn customers away every single day since the release of the album. It's been a fantastic experience for the pub and our team to be a part of," Amy Crowley, a marketing manager for The Black Dog, told CBS News on Wednesday.
The pub has taken full advantage of its newfound fame, adding Taylor Swift-themed drinks and food to its menu. The business has even started selling merchandise, Crowley said.
CBS News met some of Swift's superfans who made the pilgrimage to The Black Dog, and who were very happy to sample an "Aperol Spritz (Taylor's Version)" cocktail.
Gracie and Ethan, siblings from Texas who were on their first and only day vacationing in the U.K., said they just had to visit the site, given its connection to their cultural hero.
"We went to the Crown Jewels, [we have] Les Mis tonight, and then The Black Dog — which is all on the same level of importance," they said with a laugh.
London-born artist and fellow Swiftie Chris Lloyd was positioned outside the pub, drawing its exterior, when we arrived.
"I feel like it's so cool that she's knitted a bit of London into her tracks and into her history," he said. "So, it's cool because you can see the Swifties from London around here just feeling a little bit closer to her, a little bit more connected."
New York-born sisters Jaquelyn and Daniella even got marked for life to express their passion for Swift while vacationing in London.
"We actually got matching tattoos inspired by Taylor here - I love you to moon and to Saturn, which is from the song 'Seven,'" explained Daniella. "So my sister got the moon, and I got Saturn, for Taylor."
- In:
- Taylor Swift
- Music
- United Kingdom
- London
veryGood! (9)
Related
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Ukraine has improved conditions for its Hungarian minority. It might not be enough for Viktor Orbán
- At least 19 dead and 18 injured after bus collides with truck in northern Mexico
- Riverdale's Lili Reinhart Shares Alopecia Diagnosis
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Kim Kardashian Shares Painful Red Markings on Her Legs Due to Psoriasis Flare Up
- 5 suspects charged with murder in Southern California desert killings in dispute over marijuana
- Over 50% of Americans would take a 20% pay cut for 'work-life balance. But can they retire?
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Toyota warns drivers of 50,000 vehicles to stop driving immediately and get cars repaired
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Fred Again.. is one part DJ, one part poet. Meet the Grammy best new artist nominee
- David Rubenstein has a deal to buy the Baltimore Orioles for $1.725 billion, AP source says
- Parents share heartwarming stories of how Taylor Swift has inspired girls to watch the NFL
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- North Carolina amends same-day voter registration rules in an effort to appease judge’s concerns
- Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner returns home to Italy amid great fanfare
- Mexico’s economy ekes out 0.1% expansion in 4th quarter, posts growth of 3.1% for 2023
Recommendation
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
Watch the moment an elderly woman's uncontrollable tremors stop as she pets a therapy pony
Charles Osgood: CBS News' poet-in-residence
LA woman jumps onto hood of car to stop dognapping as thieves steal her bulldog: Watch
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
What to know about Elon Musk's Neuralink, which put an implant into a human brain
Paris Hilton Celebrates Son Phoenix's 1st Birthday With Sliving Under the Sea Party
ChatGPT violated European privacy laws, Italy tells chatbot maker OpenAI