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A London based mostly pub, The Black Dog, has revealed how its business has been booming after Taylor Swift talked about it in her new track.
The restaurant’s advertising and marketing director, Amy Crowley, spoke candidly concerning the business’ recent success throughout an interview with People, printed on 25 April. Her feedback got here after Swift launched her new album, The Tortured Poets Department on 19 April, adopted by a second album with extra songs. One of the bonus songs on the file – The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology – is “The Black Dog,” which tells the story of somebody watching their ex going into their go-to bar following their breakup.
Speaking to People, Crowley mentioned the recognition The Black Dog has skilled since Swift’s album launch, noting it’s “been surreal”. She additionally opened up about how grateful the South London based mostly pub is for the press, because it’s a small business.
“We’re quite lucky because we’re a well-established and well-loved local pub already, but that’s the key word, we’re a local pub, so to get this worldwide attention has been crazy,” she added.
Crowley specified that since Swift’s album launch, folks from all around the world have made their approach to The Black Dog, with the largest curiosity coming “from the States, Spain, Germany and Australia”.
She acknowledged that whereas the pub hasn’t been in a position to seat each visitor that walks in, many shoppers, particularly Swifties, have bonded with one another when within the restaurant.
“We’ve had to turn people away as we’re at max capacity, so that shows the levels that we’re talking about,” she stated. “What’s been great though is that the fans have been amazing. We’ve had them shifting up to share tables with strangers to let people get in the door which is really cool.”
In honour of the album and rise in business for The Black Dog, the restaurant can be providing Swift-themed meals and drinks.
“We’ve got our Swift Half which is our Black Dog lager and then we’ve got the Swift Burger which is a classic burger with our special house sauce with fries and chili sauce,” Crowley stated. “They’ve been very popular.”
Crowley revealed that the restaurant has continued to pay homage to Swift’s new work, because the pub even has lyrics from the album on its chalkboard exterior. She additionally stated that prospects have been requesting merchandise that references Swift’s hit album.
“We’re creating T-shirts and people are already buying our pint glasses. The number of people signed up to our mailing list for the merchandise is already in the thousands, so we absolutely anticipate things will sell out as soon as they’re ready,” she stated.
Since its launch, there’s been ongoing hypothesis from followers that “Black Dog” is about certainly one of Swift’s exes, equivalent to her previous boyfriend of six-years, Joe Alwyn, or 1975 frontman Matty Healy, who she briefly dated final yr. The first verse of the track refers back to the singer noticing her ex’s telephone location and seeing him go to The Black Dog, which is predicated in Vauxhall, London, after their breakup.
“I am someone who, until recent events,” the track begins. “You shared your secrets with / And your location you forgot to turn it off / And so I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog.”
Speaking to People, Crowley famous that she “couldn’t possibly say” if both Alwyn or Healy has been to The Black Dog or not. In addition, she acknowledged that workers on the restaurant don’t know who Swift is singing about and doubtless by no means will.
“We have been furiously looking back at CCTV, but we couldn’t possibly comment and I think that is part of the allure of Taylor isn’t it, she’s got to keep her fans in suspense, so we will go along with that,” she stated.
However, the restaurant has nonetheless joked concerning the that means of the track on social media. Earlier this week, The Black Dog took to share a video of somebody within the pub speeding to the pc, as a way to undergo the safety footage and see who’s been within the restaurant earlier than.
“POV, You work at The Black Dog (yes the actual pub Taylor name-dropped) and are trying desperately to figure out if it was Matty or Joe.”
The Independent has contacted a consultant for The Black Dog for remark.
