Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob in a sleek black enamel finish, aimed at anyone who wants traditional gas cooking with a touch of retro styling. With four burners, including a powerful wok burner, it is designed to handle everything from weekday suppers to more adventurous weekend cooking.
Smeg sits firmly at the premium end of the market, and this hob reflects that, combining solid build quality with a simple, unfussy layout. At this price it is a step up from basic entry-level models, but you are paying for the brand’s design and robust cast iron supports as much as the burner count.
Owner feedback is very positive, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating from multiple reviews, suggesting that real-world users rate both its looks and day-to-day performance highly.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH suits households that cook regularly and want reliable, responsive gas heat without cluttering the worktop with an oversized appliance. At 60cm wide, it is ideal for standard UK kitchens, fitting neatly into a typical cut-out while still giving room for four pans at once.
It is a strong choice if you enjoy stir-fries, searing and fast boiling, thanks to the ultra-rapid wok burner. Home cooks who like to move quickly between simmering, sautéing and boiling will appreciate the clear layout and the way the burners are spaced.
Budget-wise, this is a mid-to-premium option rather than a bargain-basement hob. It is likely to appeal to buyers upgrading a tired built-in hob, renovating a kitchen in a period or country style, or simply those who value Smeg’s design and reputation.
If you are a first-time buyer on a very tight budget or want lots of smart features and touch controls, there are simpler or more high-tech models out there. But for someone who prioritises solid hardware, classic looks and a strong wok burner, this fits the bill.
The standout feature is the dedicated wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat for stir-fries, large pans and rapid boiling. It gives you more flexibility than four identically sized burners and makes this hob feel more capable than many basic 60cm models.
Heavy-duty cast iron pan supports add a reassuringly solid feel. They hold pans steady, cope well with heavier cookware and contribute to the premium look, especially in combination with the black enamel surface.
Automatic ignition on the rotary dials makes lighting each burner straightforward – you simply turn and the flame appears, so there is no need for matches or a separate ignition button. The front-mounted controls keep everything within easy reach when you are juggling multiple pots.
Safety is well covered, with flame failure devices and automatic safety shut off. These features cut the gas supply if the flame goes out unexpectedly, which is especially important in busy family kitchens.
Finally, the slim 3cm profile and integrated design help it sit neatly into most standard worktops, giving a clean, built-in look that will match other Victoria range appliances.
For the price, some buyers may expect extra convenience features such as a timer, control panel lock or more advanced controls, none of which are included. This is a deliberately simple, traditional gas hob rather than a feature-packed modern hybrid.
The enamel surface, while attractive, can show marks more readily than some stainless or glass alternatives and may require a bit more care to keep looking its best over time, especially around the burners.
There are only four burners and three burner sizes, which is standard for 60cm but not especially generous if you often cook with several large pans at once. Larger families or serious batch cooks might prefer a wider hob with five burners.
Installation also needs both an electrician to attach the power supply and a Gas Safe engineer to connect the gas, and the gas hose is not included. That is normal for built-in gas hobs, but it is worth factoring those extra costs into your budget.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is straightforward and unfussy. The four burners are laid out clearly, with the controls at the front so you do not have to reach over hot pans to adjust the flame. Rotary dials offer a direct, tactile feel – you can judge the heat by eye and by habit, which many gas cooks prefer.
The automatic ignition means you can light burners quickly, and the hob responds instantly when you raise or lower the flame. The ultra-rapid burner makes a noticeable difference when you want to bring a large pot to the boil or get a wok smoking hot for a quick stir-fry.
Cast iron pan supports span the hob, making it easy to slide pans from one burner to another without lifting. They are weighty and feel robust, though they do make the hob slightly heavier to lift for cleaning and can be more awkward to manoeuvre in a small sink.
Cleaning the black enamel surface is manageable but benefits from a quick wipe after each use to avoid baked-on spills. Because the hob is so low profile at 3cm, it sits almost flush with the worktop, which looks smart and helps prevent crumbs and debris from gathering around the edges.
Performance-wise, the burner power ranges from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW, giving you a useful spread from gentle simmering to full-throttle boiling. The ultra-rapid burner is the star here, offering the strong, focused heat needed for tasks like searing meat or tossing a wok full of vegetables without them steaming.
The remaining burners cover everyday needs well, from steady pasta water to delicate sauces. With three different burner sizes across the four zones, you can pair pans to the most suitable burner for better efficiency and control. That makes it easy to keep one dish ticking over while another gets a burst of heat.
Safety features are well integrated. Flame failure devices on the burners mean the gas supply will shut off automatically if a flame goes out, while the automatic safety shut off provides an extra layer of protection. For families or anyone who cooks for extended periods, those are genuinely reassuring inclusions.
The hob surface is finished in enamel, which complements the retro-inspired Victoria styling. While it does not add smart functionality, it gives the hob a distinctive, classic look that works especially well in traditional or shaker-style kitchens. Cast iron pan supports not only look the part but stand up to years of regular use.
Although clearly designed as a traditional gas hob rather than a high-tech model, the SR964NGH still ticks key functional boxes: automatic ignition, LPG compatibility and convertibility with the included kit, plus a compact 60cm width that suits the vast majority of UK installations.
At around £399, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits in the mid-to-upper price band for a 60cm gas hob. You can certainly find cheaper four-burner models, but they generally lack the combination of Smeg styling, a powerful wok burner and heavy-duty cast iron supports.
The strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 suggests owners feel they are getting what they paid for in terms of performance and build quality. The inclusion of flame failure safety devices, automatic ignition and LPG conversion kit adds to the sense of a well-specified, thoughtfully designed hob rather than a bare-bones option.
You are paying a premium for the brand, design and materials, not for advanced electronics or smart features. If you value those tangible qualities and plan to keep the hob for many years, it offers solid value. If you just want the cheapest way to get four gas burners, a more basic model will save you money.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed 60cm gas hob that blends classic looks with very usable everyday performance. The ultra-rapid wok burner, sturdy cast iron pan supports and simple rotary controls make it a pleasure to cook on if you enjoy the direct, responsive feel of gas.
It is not the most feature-rich hob on the market, and the lack of timers or child lock may put off some buyers looking for maximum convenience or safety aids. However, for many kitchens, its strengths – reliable burners, strong safety features and attractive design – matter more than extra electronics.
If you are upgrading a standard 60cm hob and want something smarter and more robust without going oversize, this model is easy to recommend. Those on a strict budget or wanting more high-tech functionality might look elsewhere, but for classic gas cooking with a premium finish, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a very satisfying choice.