Taylor Swift Song Mention Has Been ‘Surreal’ Says London Pub The Black Dog: ‘We’re at Max Capacity’ (Exclusive)

“We’ve had to turn people away,” Black Dog Marketing Manager Amy Cowley tells PEOPLE

Taylor Swift; The Black Dog. PHOTO: TODD WILLIAMSON/JANUARY IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK; COURTESY THE BLACK DOG VAUXHALL

The last six days have been some what of a dream for London pub The Black Dog.

After Taylor Swift released her record-breaking new album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19 — featuring a bonus track titled “The Black Dog” — everything changed for the local pub.

“It’s been surreal,” Marketing Manager Amy Cowley tells PEOPLE of the response the pub has had. “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.”

Swifties have been flocking to the bar, which is located in south London, from around the world to see the now-famous location mentioned by Swift, 34.

“We’ve had people from all over,” Cowley tells PEOPLE. “We’ve had interest from the States, Spain, Germany and Australia. It’s been far-reaching.”

“Every single day since the album has been released we’ve had to turn people away as we’re at max capacity, so that shows the levels that we’re talking about,” she continues of the attention the pub has received. “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.”

The Black Dog.ALAMY

Every Place Taylor Swift References in Tortured Poets Department, from the Black Dog to the Heath

In “The Black Dog,” the pop superstar’s lyrics tell the story of a person she watches enter the bar, a move that appears to betray her.

“I am someone who until recent events / You shared your secrets with / And your location, you forgot to turn it off,” she writes in verse one. “And so I watch as you walk / Into some bar called The Black Dog / And pierce new holes in my heart,” she continues.

Swift reiterates that the person “forgot to turn it off,” likely in reference to their location tracking on their phone. In the chorus, she goes on to sing, “I just don’t understand how you don’t miss me / In The Black Dog, when someone plays The Starting Line.”

The Starting Line is mentioned a few times on TTPD, possibly in reference to the band often covered by The 1975, whose frontman is Swift’s ex Matty Healy. Within “The Black Dog,” Swift writes about this person meeting a girl at the bar, but she’s too young to know who the pop-punk band from the early 2000s are or their songs.

Patrons in The Black Dog.JEFFREY GREENBERG/EDUCATION IMAGES/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Lyrics Detail Fury and Heartbreak in Joe Alwyn, Matty Healy Relationships

But as for whether or not Healy, 35, has ever visited the pub, Cowley teases, “We couldn’t possibly say!”

The same goes for Swift’s ex-boyfriend of six years, Joe Alwyn.

“We’ve had people through the door. We don’t know who for sure she is singing about,” she continues. “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.”

The pub has made the most of its newfound fame thanks to the singer, with the venue now offering Swift-themed burgers 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. They’ve been very popular,” says Cowley.

Taylor Swift; Matty Healy; Joe Alwyn.JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC; KARWAI TANG/WIREIMAGE; DAVE BENETT/ GETTY

Lyrics from the track also feature on chalkboards outside the pub, while inside songs from TTPD can be heard playing as “fun Taylor posters” adorn the walls.

“We’ve had a huge request from fans for merchandise,” reveals Cowley. “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.”

Cowley says it was actually a member of the pub’s staff who told them all about the song, but she admits “none of us necessarily took it very seriously” at first.

“She sent a message to our whole team and said, ‘Guys I think we’re mentioned on Taylor Swift’s new album, I think this is going to be really big.’ To be perfectly honest, none of us necessarily took it very seriously, but she knew, she’s a fan. We should have listened straight away!” laughs Cowley.

“But everybody is loving it, fans and non-fans because it’s really just a bit of fun and it’s great to have that attention. Everyone has been all hands on deck to get us through this mad rush. The team have all been given a bonus as they’ve been doing such a great job.”

And she says the team will be better prepared for extra visitors during Swift’s Eras Tour, which heads to London on June 21 for three nights.

“We’re definitely in planning mode for that and we’re anticipating a big rush at that point and we also want to try and do something cool and fun around that so watch this space!” says Cowley.

“And we’d like to say to Taylor that when she is here in the summer for her tour, just come on in and have a drink with us! We would love it. We’d absolutely love to have her.”