by An Unconventional Hobby Amidst Everyday Shopping
We are all familiar with the situation: circling a supermarket car park looking for a good spot near the entrance. Most people just want to park quickly and get on with their business, but one father from the UK saw a different meaning in it. He decided to turn it into a game, setting himself the task of parking in every single spot in the car park. What started as a way to break the monotony turned into a long-term challenge he carried out for nearly two years.
A Methodical Approach to Parking
Gareth Wild, a father of two from Devizes who works in marketing, found himself in the spotlight thanks to his unusual hobby, even featuring in BBC material. Over the course of one year, seven months, and two days, he managed to visit all 108 available parking spaces at the local Sainsbury’s supermarket, marking each one as a small but pleasant victory.
The 44-year-old man approached the task with astonishing precision: he used satellite images to map the car park layout and assign numbers to each space, excluding those designated for disabled people and motorcyclists. Driving his previous-generation Skoda Octavia Combi, he methodically ticked off the spots one by one during regular shopping trips.
Cost Tracking and Rating System
Along the way, he recorded the date and time for each occupied spot and tracked parking costs, which ultimately amounted to £89.20 for the entire trial period. This sum seems insignificant compared to the £9,567.26 spent on groceries over the same time.
Perhaps the most interesting detail is how he classified spots into categories like “Divine Level,” “Useful,” and “Avoid,” based on their convenience. Unsurprisingly, the two spots closest to the entrance, usually designated for families, turned out to be the most desirable.
Motivation and Family Support
Speaking to My London News, Gareth explained his motivation:
Boredom was probably the starting point. I have to do weekly shopping, so little things like this entertain me. It was a bit sad to see it end because it’s part of your routine for so long that when it finally finishes, you have to find the next thing.
He added, with a hint of self-awareness, that his “wife fully supports my quirks.”
Previous Experience and New Plans
Believe it or not, this is not Gareth’s first “rodeo” in the world of parking. Back in 2021, he completed a six-year marathon in Bromley, covering a much larger 211-space car park. After moving in 2024, he revived the challenge in Devizes.
One can guess what’s next. The British father has already set his sights on a new challenge, this time at a local Morrisons supermarket, which has over 400 parking spaces, keeping him busy for a long time.
Public Reaction and Hobby Philosophy
Despite the everyday mundanity of the hobby, Gareth says the reaction to it has been unexpectedly enthusiastic. Many other people are now considering trying something similar in their local supermarket car parks. Speaking to the BBC, he laughed:
What is this thing about having a favorite parking spot. I have truly reached the peak of life.
Stories like these are often perceived as eccentric, but they point to a broader phenomenon of seeking personal pleasure and meaning in seemingly routine actions. Gareth Wild’s experience shows how a mandatory part of life—such as weekly shopping—can be transformed into a personal creative project that brings satisfaction. It is a reminder that even in the most ordinary circumstances, one can find space for play, a systematic approach, and achieving goals that may seem strange to others but fill a specific person’s life with special meaning. His story also raises questions about how the modern urban environment, with its standardized spaces like supermarkets, can become a field for unconventional personal activity.
