Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob with four burners and a classic black enamel finish. It sits firmly in Smeg’s premium, design-led Victoria range, aimed at buyers who want traditional styling without sacrificing day-to-day usability.
With a dedicated wok burner, solid cast iron pan supports and automatic ignition, it’s built for keen home cooks who like the responsiveness of gas. A strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from existing owners suggests that, while it’s not the cheapest option, it delivers on both looks and performance for most households.
If you’re upgrading an older 60cm gas hob and want something that feels substantial, safe and easy to live with, this model is a serious contender.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH suits households that cook regularly and value the precision of gas. With four burners and three different zone sizes, it’s ideal for couples and families who often have multiple pans on the go but don’t need a sprawling 75cm or 90cm hob.
It’s a good fit if you’re working with a standard 60cm cut-out, perhaps in a typical UK semi or flat, and want to lift the look of the kitchen with something more characterful than a basic stainless steel hob. The black enamel surface and chunky cast iron supports give it a more upmarket, range-style feel.
Budget-wise, this is a premium 60cm gas hob rather than a bargain-basement buy. You’re paying for design, build quality and brand, so it will appeal more to buyers planning a longer-term kitchen rather than a quick rental refresh.
It’s also well suited to confident cooks who use woks or larger pans, thanks to the ultra-rapid burner. However, the controls remain very straightforward, so first-time gas users shouldn’t find it intimidating.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat. That’s a real advantage if you stir-fry, sear meat or regularly boil large pots, as it gets pans up to temperature noticeably faster than a standard burner.
Cast iron pan supports are another strong point. They’re heavier and more stable than basic enamel or wire designs, so large pots feel secure and can be slid between burners without lifting, which is great when you’re juggling a busy dinner.
Automatic ignition built into the rotary controls keeps things simple – just turn and the burner lights, so there’s no need for separate spark buttons or matches. Combined with front-mounted controls, it’s easy to see and adjust the flame while you cook.
Safety is well covered with flame failure devices and automatic safety shut off. If a flame goes out unexpectedly, the gas supply is cut, which is reassuring in busy family kitchens.
Finally, LPG compatibility with a supplied conversion kit makes it flexible for homes running on bottled gas, including rural properties or holiday homes.
There’s no built-in timer or control panel lock, which some modern hobs offer as standard. If you like to set visual reminders while cooking, you’ll still be relying on your oven timer or a phone.
The enamel surface, while attractive, is generally a little more prone to visible marks and may require a bit more care than some stainless or glass alternatives to stay looking its best.
For a premium-brand hob, the feature set is quite focused on traditional gas cooking rather than smart extras – there are no digital displays, automatic cooking programmes or touch controls. Some buyers will love the simplicity, but others might expect more technology at this price level.
Lastly, installation requires both a Gas Safe engineer and an electrician to attach the plug or cable, and the gas hose is not included, so you should factor those extra costs into your budget.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be very straightforward. The front-mounted rotary dials are easy to reach and clearly laid out, so you don’t have to stretch over hot pans to adjust the flame. Automatic ignition means each burner lights with a smooth twist – particularly handy when you’ve got one hand on a heavy pan.
The combination of four burners with three different sizes lets you match pans sensibly: smaller saucepans won’t overwhelm the lower-powered zones, while the ultra-rapid burner is on hand for big pots or the wok. This makes it easy to simmer, boil and fry at the same time without constantly shuffling cookware around.
Cast iron pan supports give the hob a reassuringly solid feel in everyday use. Pans sit flat and stable, and you can slide them from one burner to another rather than lifting, which is helpful when you’re draining pasta or moving sauces off the heat. The trade-off is that the supports are fairly weighty, so you’ll need to remove them carefully for cleaning.
Cleaning itself is fairly typical for an enamel gas hob: spills need wiping up reasonably quickly to avoid staining, but the flat surface and removable burner caps help keep maintenance manageable. With no touch panels or displays, there’s less to smudge or scratch.
The safety shut off and flame failure devices work quietly in the background and don’t affect normal use, but they add peace of mind if you have children or are easily distracted mid-cook.
In performance terms, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH focuses on delivering strong, controllable gas heat. With a burner power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW, you get enough finesse for gentle simmering as well as serious heat for searing and stir-frying. The dedicated wok burner is the star here, providing that intense flame pattern you need to keep food moving fast in a large pan.
The hob layout offers four burners across three different sizes, which makes it easier to pair hob zones to your cookware. You can keep a sauce ticking away on a smaller burner while running a full rolling boil on the wok zone, without compromising either.
Cast iron pan supports not only look and feel premium, they also distribute weight more evenly across the burners. This helps with even heating and reduces the wobble you sometimes get with lighter supports, especially under tall stockpots or heavy cast iron pans.
Automatic ignition on all burners keeps operation simple and reliable. Paired with the flame failure safety devices and automatic safety shut off, it’s a reassuring setup that aligns well with what you’d expect from a quality Italian-made gas hob.
The hob is LPG compatible and comes with a conversion kit included, which is a genuinely useful feature if you live off the mains gas grid. Power requirements are modest (3-amp fuse), but you do need an electrician to attach the plug or cable, ensuring everything is wired safely.
This Smeg Victoria hob sits towards the premium end of the 60cm gas hob market, reflecting the brand’s styling and Italian build. You can certainly find cheaper four-burner hobs, but they generally won’t match the combination of cast iron supports, powerful wok burner and overall finish you get here.
The strong user feedback – a 4.8 out of 5 rating from owners – suggests that people who choose it feel they’ve got what they paid for. The inclusion of safety shut off, flame failure devices and LPG conversion kit also softens the premium price a little, as these are features that aren’t guaranteed on budget options.
If you’re simply looking for the lowest-cost gas hob, this isn’t it. But if you care about long-term durability, a more characterful design and better cooking performance from the wok burner, it represents solid value within the premium bracket.
The 2-year manufacturer warranty is fairly standard rather than generous, but reasonable for a built-in appliance at this level.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-judged choice for anyone upgrading to a smarter-looking 60cm hob without wanting complex technology. It pairs classic styling with robust cast iron supports, strong burner performance and sensible safety features, and the feedback from existing owners is overwhelmingly positive.
It’s best suited to households that cook regularly, appreciate the speed and control of a proper wok burner and want something that lifts the look of the kitchen. The lack of timer, child lock and clever extras will put off buyers hunting for high-tech touches, and the price is higher than many no-frills alternatives.
If you’re willing to pay a bit more for design, brand reassurance and strong everyday cooking performance, this Smeg gas hob is an excellent all-rounder. If you mainly boil pasta and heat the odd sauce, you may be just as well served by a cheaper model – but enthusiastic home cooks will find a lot to like here.