Exclusive: London better brace itself for the Taylor Swift tornado

By Sarah Tetteh

London better brace itself for the Taylor Swift tornado that is about to hit the capital bringing it to a total standstill –  and we can’t wait.  

The Bad Blood singer brings the UK leg of her record-breaking Eras World tour this weekend. 

To celebrate her arrival, I’ve unearthed one of my very first interviews with the star – from way back to her Love Story days when she came to the UK for her ground-breaking Speak Now tour back in 2011. 

As one of the first writers to interview her for the world famous 3am column at the Mirror, the sprightly young star, whose Fearless album had put her on the map,  already knew the secret of writing great music. Heartbreak. And she has carried it right through to today making her one of the world’s biggest selling artists. 

Back in the day Taylor was being wooed by Hollywood’s Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas and Taylor Lautner to name but a few. 

Even back then, Taylor warned that if anyone hurt her, she’d get her own back. Go, girl!  

The stunning then 21-year-old told me after the first UK night of her fab Speak Now tour in Birmingham: “My favourite songs are about love and break-ups. I love getting revenge after a bad break-up. The best way to get your own back is to write about how mean they are. 

“Another way is to stop taking their phone calls, and burn their pictures.” 

Taylor was hot stuff at the LG Arena with her enchanting fairytale set – a perfect mix of girly anthems in her sparkly princess ballgown for Love Story and 15. Then she switched it up with her hit Better Than Revenge. 

Now fast forward 13 years, and Taylor is still writing about her exes. Love it! 

Taylor’s 11th studio album, Tortured Poets Department, is another delve into her relationship history, with fans speculating it must be ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Seeing him go into the pub in question on an app on her phone, she said: “I am someone who until recent events 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.”   

The South London Press’s Claudia Lee reported how that name-check for The Black Dog pub, made the little known Vauxhall pub world famous.  

Lily Bottomley, 24, from S C Soho, the hospitality group that owns the Black Dog, has opened up about Taylor’s track. In a chat with the South London Press, she gave the biggest hint yet that her ex Joe Alwyn was the subject of the track, saying: “We know the song is about one of her ex-boyfriends and without giving too much away, I will say we have had a certain blonde regular in a few times.” 

Imagine if she hits Catford’s Auntie Annie’s or Lewisham’s Sweet1ne? There will be cues for jerk chicken and oxtail around the block! 

With Taylor’s arrival set to boost the economy in terms of travel and tourism, and even creating more jobs in the hospitality industry – she is welcome, anytime!

Pictured top: Taylor Swift (Picture: PA)