A British man who has spent seven years reviewing public benches has finally awarded his first perfect 10/10, after returning to a favourite bench on his wedding day.
Sam Wilmot started the Instagram account Rate This Bench in 2019 after jokingly judging benches while walking with friends. Since then, he has reviewed more than 300 benches and attracted nearly 18,000 followers.
His long search for perfection ended at St John The Baptist Church in Old Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. The bench overlooks countryside stretching towards Bristol and Wales.
Wedding Day Turns a 9/10 Into Perfection
Wilmot had previously reviewed the same bench and awarded it 9/10. In fact, the Old Sodbury bench appeared among his favourite early reviews.
Its significance grew after Wilmot and his wife, Sophie, chose the church for their wedding.
“The first time I reviewed it, I gave it a 9/10. But when we first discussed getting married, I mentioned that I would like this church to be involved purely on the basis of this bench,” Wilmot said.
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After the ceremony, the newlyweds returned to the bench in their wedding clothes for photographs.
“On the wedding day we came back in our suit and dress, and I reviewed it again and it was the very first 10.”
Wilmot said the emotion surrounding the day made the bench impossible to beat.
“People are always asking why there’s never been a 10,” he said. “I’m never going to sit on a bench again that’s going to have that feeling.”
Seven Years of Reviewing Benches
Wilmot said the account began almost by accident.
“I was jokingly judging benches whilst out on a walk with friends, and one of them said ‘that’d make a good Instagram account’, so I just went for it,” he said.
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Since 2019, his reviews have covered benches across England, Wales and Dubai.
Followers also send him photographs and personal stories explaining why particular benches matter to them. Wilmot said those emotional connections are among the reasons he plans to continue the account despite finally finding his 10/10.
Sophie has played an important role in the project as the account’s photographer since the couple met.
“Taking the photos of all the benches is something I feel very grateful for, not only to help, but mainly be a part of the journey,” she said.
She described their wedding-day return simply: “The best view, on the best day, sat on the best bench.”
What Makes a Perfect Bench?
Wilmot uses a surprisingly detailed scoring system.
“They need to have armrests and a backrest, there needs to be curvature to the seat, I like a bench to be made out of wood,” he explained.
He also awards points for a solid base, the surrounding view and location, and a dedication or plaque. The final point comes from what he calls the “wow factor”.
City-centre benches often perform badly because of dividing barriers, awkward armrests and designs that limit comfort.
“It qualifies as a bench, but it’s not really a bench,” Wilmot said.
After hundreds of reviews, the Old Sodbury seat finally delivered something no technical scoring system could fully measure: a personal memory linked to the day he married the woman he loves.
