Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob with four burners, finished in a traditional black enamel that matches Smeg’s retro-inspired Victoria range. It aims to blend classic looks with the kind of control keen home cooks expect.
With sturdy cast iron pan supports, automatic ignition and a powerful wok burner, it’s clearly geared towards people who like to cook properly rather than just reheat. A strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from owners suggests that, for most kitchens, it delivers on that promise.
This is not the cheapest 60cm gas hob you can buy, but it positions itself as a premium, design-led option with a reassuring two-year warranty and solid safety features.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for anyone putting together a stylish, traditional-style kitchen who doesn’t want to compromise on everyday practicality. If you already own other Smeg Victoria appliances, this hob will slot straight in visually.
With four burners and three different burner sizes, it’s well suited to small and medium-sized households that cook regularly. The inclusion of a high-output wok burner makes it particularly appealing if you enjoy stir-fries, searing steaks or bringing large pots to the boil quickly.
This model sits in the more premium end of the gas hob market, so it will best suit buyers who are happy to pay extra for brand reputation, Italian build and robust cast iron supports rather than ticking the absolute budget box.
It’s also a good choice for users who value simplicity over gadgetry. The front-mounted rotary dials, automatic ignition and lack of timers or touch controls make it very straightforward for first-time users, older relatives or anyone who just wants reliable heat without faffing around with settings.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat. That makes a real difference when you’re stir-frying, boiling pasta water or reducing sauces in a hurry.
Cast iron pan supports are another big plus. They feel solid, hold pans securely and give the hob a professional look that matches the premium price tag. They’re also more durable than the lightweight enamelled supports common on cheaper models.
Automatic ignition built into the rotary controls keeps things simple: turn, click, flame on. Combined with the front control position, it’s easy to reach and adjust burners without leaning over hot pans.
Safety is reassuringly covered with a flame failure safety device and automatic safety shut-off. If the flame goes out or something isn’t right, the gas supply is cut, which is especially important in busy family kitchens.
Finally, LPG compatibility with a conversion kit included means it’s flexible for homes that rely on bottled gas rather than mains, such as rural properties or holiday homes.
There’s no timer or control panel lock, so you miss out on some of the convenience and child-safety features offered by certain rival hobs, particularly induction models.
The enamel surface, while classic and in keeping with the Victoria styling, won’t be as smear-resistant or easy to keep pristine as some modern glass or stainless steel designs. It may show scratches over time if you’re not careful when lifting the heavy cast iron supports.
Being a premium brand name, you’re paying partly for the Smeg badge and coordinated look. If design isn’t a priority, you can find simpler four-burner gas hobs for less money, albeit with a less upmarket feel.
Lastly, installation needs both a Gas Safe engineer for the gas connection and an electrician to attach the power cable, and a gas hose is not included. That’s standard for many built-in gas hobs, but it is an extra cost to factor in.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH feels straightforward and reassuringly solid. The front-mounted rotary dials are clearly laid out, so you can see at a glance which burner you’re adjusting and avoid reaching over hot cookware.
Automatic ignition means you simply twist the control to get a flame, which is far more convenient than separate spark buttons or using matches. The burner layout and three different burner sizes make it easy to match pans to the right zone, from small saucepans up to large woks.
The cast iron pan supports create a continuous, stable cooking surface, so sliding heavy pans around feels controlled rather than wobbly. Their weight does mean they require a firm lift when you come to clean the hob, but once removed the relatively flat enamel surface is easy enough to wipe down.
Because there’s no built-in timer or advanced electronics, there’s very little learning curve. If you’re upgrading from an older gas hob, this will feel instantly familiar, just better built and more responsive.
Performance-wise, the burner power range of 1.05 to 3.3 kW covers most everyday cooking tasks with ease. The ultra-rapid burner at the top end gives you that extra punch when you need fast heat, while the smaller burners are better for simmering and gentle cooking.
The four-burner layout with three different burner sizes offers good flexibility on a compact 60cm footprint. You can comfortably run a large pan on the wok burner, a medium frying pan and a couple of smaller pots at the same time, which suits typical family meals.
Safety features are strong for a traditional gas hob. Flame failure devices cut the gas if the flame goes out, and automatic safety shut-off adds another layer of protection. These are particularly valuable in homes with children or where the hob may be left on for longer cooking sessions.
The enamel surface and cast iron supports give the hob a robust, traditional feel. While it lacks digital readouts or smart functions, what you do get is proven, reliable hardware designed for years of regular use. LPG compatibility and the included conversion kit make it more versatile than some built-in models limited to mains gas.
Compared with many basic four-burner hobs, the SR964NGH clearly focuses on build quality, burner performance and classic styling rather than piling on extra electronics, which will suit cooks who care more about a good flame than clever presets.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits at the upper end of the price range for a 60cm four-burner gas hob. You can certainly find cheaper options with a similar basic layout, but few at this size and configuration offer the same combination of Smeg styling, a high-output wok burner and heavy cast iron supports.
The strong 4.8 out of 5 owner rating suggests that most buyers feel they’re getting what they paid for. The two-year manufacturer warranty for domestic use further supports the premium positioning, giving more peace of mind than the bare minimum cover.
If you’re purely hunting for the lowest-cost gas hob, this won’t be the best value on paper. However, if you value design, build and brand reputation, and you’ll make good use of the powerful wok burner, the price becomes easier to justify.
Taken as a whole, it offers solid value for a premium, design-led model, even if it doesn’t chase the latest tech-heavy features seen on some similarly priced induction hobs.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-made, traditionally styled 60cm gas hob that delivers reliable performance and strong everyday usability. Its powerful wok burner, robust cast iron supports and simple rotary controls make it a pleasure to cook on for anyone who enjoys using gas.
You are paying a premium for the Smeg name, the cohesive Victoria design and the solid build, and you don’t get extras like timers, child locks or touch controls. For some buyers, a more feature-packed induction hob at a similar price might be more tempting.
However, if you’re set on gas, want a hob that looks the part in a classic or country-style kitchen, and appreciate straightforward controls backed up by solid safety features, the SR964NGH is an excellent choice that should keep most home cooks very happy.