CELEBRITY
EXCLUSIVE: The modest kebab shop that’s become a magnet for Swifties: How fans are flocking to tiny north London takeaway after Taylor Swift put in £450 chicken doner order for her entourage during Wembley show
A high street takeaway is proving a massive hit with Taylor Swift super-fans after the pop icon ordered 45 doner kebabs for her Wembley Stadium show. Visitors from around the world have been flocking to the modest kebab shop after the superstar singer placed a huge order for herself and her entourage.
Staff at the Kentish Delight kebab joint in north London say fans have been desperate to try Swift’s favorite takeaway – a £9.90 chicken doner with garlic sauce and heaps of salad. Owner Ahmed Khan, 55, received a text message from a member of Swift’s team with the requirements for the £450 order.
It will be collected on Friday night when Swift, 34, plays the first of eight sell out shows at the iconic venue. Mr Khan – who has run the takeaway for 10 years told MailOnline: ‘They have put in an order for chicken kebabs, there’s also a couple of vegetarian options.
‘Someone will be coming round to pick them up in the afternoon. ‘I’m not surprised that one of the world’s biggest pop stars is a fan of my kebabs – we make the best quality food, tasty food.
‘There may be lots of kebab shops all over the country that look like this one but Taylor Swift comes to mine – because it’s the best. ‘She loves our garlic sauce. We make it ourselves.’ Swift began visiting the kebab shop seven years ago when she was dating British actor Joe Alwyn, 33 who lives locally. She went on to film the video for her song End Game in the shop and pictures of the star emblazoned on the wall have long been a talking point.
Mr Khan said: ‘Taylor has been in here many, many times. She used to come in with her ex boyfriend Joe. Sometimes they would pop in while others they would order a takeaway. ‘Then she came here and made a music video. ‘She knows me by my name. I have met her a number of times. ‘He is from this area and has been coming with his family since he was a kid. ‘They are very nice people and I’m a fan of her music – my favorite song is End Game.’ The unassuming takeaway has attracted fans – known as ‘Swifties’ – from around the world with many more flooding in ahead of the concerts.
Some have been meeting up to exchange friendship bracelets – a tradition among Swifties. Mr Khan said: ‘It’s incredible the reaction we have had. Even the London Mayors office has been in contact.’We are closed on Sunday but on Monday when I opened up there was a group of them who told me they were so disappointed they had come the previous day and we weren’t open. ‘I apologized for the inconvenience. ‘We get fans in here all year round but this week it has been something else. They come from everywhere – America, Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, Tunisia. We had some from Brunei yesterday.
‘They come from all over Europe – Spain, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia – everywhere. ‘A lot of them are already in London ahead of the concerts at the weekend. ‘They were here waiting to come in when I arrived to open up the shop. ‘A lot of them ask what Taylor orders and they say can they have the same but many of them know what to order already. It’s crazy but we feel very grateful that she likes our kebabs the best. ‘Normally we’re busy in the evening when the pubs are open but the Swifties will come at any time of the day. ‘We’re very grateful. Things have been so quiet in recent times because of the cost of living.’