Bench stories
Here, we celebrate the humble bench and its vital role in British life. I just love a good bench. Join me as I explore benches across the nation, one sit at a time. This is a personal project with the aim of sharing my passion for benches, and providing you with all the best spots to take a load off!
What makes a bench stand out?
Lyme Regis seafront
For me, a truly great bench offers more than just a place to sit. I'm looking for that special something – perhaps a spot that encourages relaxation, or maybe even a bench where friends can meet after a days investigating a beautiful town or city.
This particular bench isn't just wood and metal—it’s a meeting place, a great meeting place.
We’d often start our afternoons with loose plans. Maybe we had been doing different things around town: browsing the shops, catching up over coffee, or whatever else took our fancy that day. But no matter where the day took us individually, we ended the day at a bench.
Lyme Regis
Friends from different parts of the country meeting at this bench after a day being a tourist.
Do you have a favourite spot where you meet up with your friends ?
Who sits on these benches?
Dartmouth music festival
This picture I can vividly recall was the perfect end to a long weekend.
We had spent the entire day immersed in music and having fun, soaking up every last drop of joy the day had to offer.
This photo captures that exact feeling.
There is my wife Emma on the right, alongside one of her dearest friends Sally, side-by-side. It was on the last day before we began the long journey home. It’s a snapshot of pure contentment and friendship.
It's in these simple, grounded moments on a shared bench that we find rest, reflect on the fun we’ve had, and prepare for what comes next. That's why these spots are so important to me.
A very special young man
At just 10 years old, he didn’t know the joy this simple picture would bring. It’s a snapshot of our God-grandson, Josh, sitting on a bench, looking extra cool—effortless, confident, and full of life.
To most, it’s just a photo of a boy on a bench. But for us, it captures something far more: a moment frozen in time that radiates joy, personality, and a look at the person he’s becoming. That bench, that smile, that casual pose—it all tells a story of innocence, growth, and the small, perfect moments that make life unforgettable.
How can something so ordinary—a bench, a photograph—hold so much meaning, and in this picture, Josh reminds us that joy often comes in the simplest forms.
A great bench experience
Dartmouth Music festival
One of my all-time favourite bench memories comes from the Dartmouth Music Festival.
There’s just something magical about settling into a perfectly placed bench with a good friend, the kind who make you laugh until your sides ache. Add in the pulse of live music drifting through the air and the simple pleasure of a slow-burning cigar, and you’ve got a moment that feels suspended in time.
Good company, great music, and a seat that lets you take it all in—sometimes that’s all you need for the perfect day.
Tony and I at the Dartmouth Music Festival, good music behind us and even better laughs over nothing in particular.
The most apt bench so far
On holiday in Northumberland with our friends Simon and Mandy Barter, there was one place we simply had to visit: the incredible Barter Books. A bookshop like no other. And just outside, we found the most aptly named bench ever.
Naturally, the Barters sat on a bench called Barter’s. Some moments are just too perfectly written.
Great weekends away
Northumberland coast
There’s something special about a short break in Northumberland—especially when good friends, fresh air, and a perfectly placed bench all come together.
Wandering along one of Northumberland’s many winding trails, the kind that reward you with big skies and even bigger views. The pace was relaxed, the jokes were plentiful, and the time slipped by without any of us really noticing.
Eventually, we came across a sturdy bench perched at the edge of a lookout. It was the sort of spot that practically invites you to pause. So of course, we did. Backpacks down, boots resting, and spirits high, we settled in for a moment of pure, easy fun—just the lads enjoying the bench, telling stories, laughing at the same old jokes, and soaking in the landscape that stretched out around us.
It wasn’t a long stop, but it was one of those small, perfect moments that makes a walk memorable. A bench, some friends, and a view worth sharing—that’s Northumberland at its best.
