Sam Wilmot, a dedicated enthusiast who has reviewed over 300 benches worldwide, has awarded his first ever perfect score of 10/10 to a bench located in Gloucestershire.
Each bench Sam rates is evaluated on comfort, design, location and view. Despite reviewing numerous seats, Sam had never previously given a full ten until he revisited a bench at St John The Baptist Church in Old Sodbury, Gloucestershire, on his wedding day.
The couple had earlier rated the bench a 9 during a prior visit. However, Sam and his wife Sophie feel that the special occasion of sitting together as newlyweds enhanced their appreciation, resulting in an upgraded score of a perfect 10.
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Sam explained: “People often ask why there’s never been a 10 before. I don’t think I’ll ever sit on a bench again that brings quite that feeling. I always thought a 10 would come with hindsight after seeing so many benches, but on that particular day, the joy of getting married was hard to beat.”
He added: “It was a unique moment in life, impossible to recreate, so that undoubtedly raised the bench’s rating. It’s a favourite local spot for us, offering a great view of the sunset. We’ve enjoyed picnics, hot drinks, or simply sitting quietly there. It’s peaceful and away from everything, and happens to be beside a beautiful church where we chose to marry.”
Sam and Sophie, who have been together for six years, have explored hundreds of benches together, with Sophie often acting as photographer for Sam’s Instagram account, Rate This Bench.
They first discovered the Gloucestershire bench in 2020 and have returned many times since. Sam recalled: “It was around our fourth date when I asked Sophie to take a photo of me sitting on a bench in town. From then on, she’s been involved in nearly every photo, and even helped with navigating around as our driver sometimes.”
Upon lifting lockdown restrictions, the couple walked to this bench and, despite it being relatively new and popular, they patiently waited their turn for a photo.
Their wedding celebrations reflected their bench enthusiasm: they visited their perfect bench for photographs, named tables after benches they had rated, and had Sophie’s father construct a bench for guests to sign instead of a traditional guestbook.
“Initially, we didn’t want benches to dominate the wedding theme, but benches have been such a significant part of our lives that Sophie embraced the idea,” said Sam. “It was very well received. We enjoyed a fantastic day with friends, family, music and dancing – truly the best day of our lives.”
Looking ahead, Sam believes another bench could achieve the perfect score but notes it would need to hold special significance. “I’m sure at some point we’ll find another bench that scores highly for a different reason. Our 10/10 bench carries sentimental value, so the next one will need to stand out in its own way.”
Previously, a Bridgwater War Memorial bench in Somerset was rated 5/10, and a bench in Lee Abbey, Devon, earned 7/10 for its excellent location and scenery.
In his original review, Sam praised the Gloucestershire bench: “As benches go, this is as near to perfect as you’ll find. Beautifully crafted, perfectly placed, and lovingly donated by a man’s family. A waiting spot to enjoy sunshine, a great view, and share moments of life and love. It has a solid seat, firm arm rests, a touching plaque, and a slabbed base.”
He added a lighthearted note: “My bio quotes Samuel Beckett: ‘We spend our life, it’s ours, trying to bring together in the same instant a day of sunshine and a free bench.’ This bench embodies that perfectly.”
One of the less favourable benches was situated in Bathampton near Bath, rated only 3/10. Sam remarked: “It felt more like a chiropractor’s bench, positioned on a slope by the canal. The backrest was oddly placed, the seat very low and uncomfortable, lacking a solid base and armrests, with little of a view and too many passersby. It’s in desperate need of maintenance and not one I’ll be rushing back to.”