Man who rates benches on Instagram gives first ever 10/10 score

A man who has spent seven years reviewing more than 300 public benches has finally awarded his first-ever 10/10 score, after marrying the woman he loves close to it. Sam Wilmot founded the Instagram account Rate This Bench in 2019 after jokingly judging benches while out walking with friends. Since then he has featured more than 300 benches around the world, building a following of nearly 18,000 people. He had never awarded full marks until revisiting one at St John The Baptist Church in Old Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, on his wedding day. "People are always asking why there's never been a 10," Wilmot said. "I'm never going to sit on a bench again that's going to have that feeling." The bench, which overlooks countryside towards Bristol and Wales, had previously scored 9/10 but became the account's first perfect rating after Wilmot and his wife Sophie returned there for photographs following their ceremony at the church. "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. "On the wedding day we came back in our suit and dress, and I reviewed it ag

Aug 18, 2026 → Aug 18, 2026