Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob in black, designed to bring the brand’s classic styling to a standard-sized kitchen cut-out. With four burners, including a powerful wok burner, it’s aimed at home cooks who like the direct control of gas and want something that looks smarter than a basic stainless steel hob.
Smeg sits firmly in the premium camp, and this hob follows suit on price. You’re paying for design, solid build and a brand with a strong reputation for cooking appliances rather than a long list of bells and whistles.
Owners rate it very highly, with an average of 4.8 out of 5 from user reviews, which suggests it delivers where it matters: reliable ignition, steady flames and a reassuringly sturdy cooking surface.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for anyone upgrading a standard 60cm hob and wanting something that feels a cut above the usual anonymous metal slab. If you’re putting together a traditional or shaker-style kitchen, the retro-inspired Victoria trim in black will blend in especially well.
With four burners and three different burner sizes, it suits couples and families who cook most days and want enough flexibility to juggle multiple pans. The ultra-rapid burner makes it particularly appealing if you stir-fry, sear steaks or regularly bring big pots of water to the boil.
This is a better fit for buyers happy to spend a bit more for style and build quality than for someone kitting out a rental on a tight budget. There’s no timer, lock or fancy electronics, so it’s best for people who value simple, tactile controls and straightforward gas cooking over smart features.
It’s also a strong option for households that may switch between mains gas and LPG, thanks to its LPG compatibility and included conversion kit.
The standout feature here is the dedicated wok/ultra-rapid burner, which delivers quick, intense heat. It transforms how fast you can stir-fry, boil water or sear food compared with a small standard burner.
Cast iron pan supports give the hob a premium, professional feel and provide a stable base for heavy pans. They’re more durable than lighter enamel supports and help pots glide smoothly across the surface.
Everyday operation is refreshingly simple. Front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition make lighting and adjusting the flame fast and intuitive, with no hunting for separate ignition buttons.
Safety is well covered. Flame failure devices and automatic safety shut-off cut the gas if the flame goes out, offering reassurance in busy family kitchens. The hob is also LPG compatible and convertible with a kit included, which adds flexibility if you’re off-grid or planning a future fuel change.
Finally, the sleek black enamel surface and classic Victoria styling give it a distinctive, coordinated look, particularly if you already own other Smeg Victoria appliances.
For the price, the feature set is quite traditional. There’s no timer, no control panel lock and no advanced electronics, which some modern rivals offer at similar or lower price points.
The enamel surface, while attractive, tends to show spills and may take a bit more effort to keep looking pristine than some modern glass or stainless options. Cast iron supports are heavy too, so lifting them off for cleaning isn’t as effortless as lighter alternatives.
With just four burners and a 60cm width, it’s perfect for standard kitchens but may feel limiting if you’re a very keen cook used to five or six zones. The two-year warranty is decent but not outstanding in a premium-leaning price bracket, where some brands now offer longer cover.
You’ll also need both an electrician to attach the plug or cable and a Gas Safe engineer for installation, and the gas hose is not included, so factor these extra costs into your budget.
In day-to-day cooking, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH feels reassuringly solid. The cast iron pan supports span the hob and hold pans securely, so wobbly pots are unlikely to be an issue. Moving a pan from a simmering burner to the high-powered wok burner is easy, making it practical when you’re multitasking.
Automatic ignition built into the rotary dials keeps things fuss-free: push, twist, and the flame lights without needing a separate spark button. The front-mounted controls are easy to reach, which is convenient but also means you need to be mindful of little hands, as there’s no dedicated control lock.
The layout of three burner sizes helps match flames to pan diameters, cutting down on wasted heat and spills boiling over. Once you’re finished, the continuous supports lift off so you can wipe down the black enamel surface. It’s smooth and simple to clean, though like most dark finishes it will show streaks if you don’t dry it properly.
Because this is a straightforward gas hob with no digital programmes or displays, there’s very little to learn. If you’re used to gas, you’ll feel at home within minutes, and even first-time gas users will pick it up quickly.
Performance is built around four gas burners with a power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW. The lower-powered zones are well suited to gentle simmering and sauces, while the ultra-rapid burner provides the punch needed for fast boiling and high-heat frying. That spread of power gives you good control over everything from delicate custards to robust stir-fries.
The dedicated wok burner is a key strength. Positioned to accommodate larger round-bottomed or wide pans, it gives a concentrated, intense flame pattern that helps keep ingredients moving and sizzling rather than stewing. It’s also ideal for quickly heating large stockpots or family-sized pasta pans.
Construction is sensibly specified. The enamel hob surface is tough and resistant to everyday knocks and spills, while the cast iron pan supports add both stability and a more professional aesthetic. For many buyers, that combination of retro styling and solid feel is the main draw of this model.
On the safety front, the hob includes a flame failure safety device across the burners and automatic safety shut-off, which together reduce the risk of gas escaping unlit. Automatic ignition ensures the flame catches quickly when you turn the controls, so you’re not left repeatedly clicking the knobs.
In terms of extras, it’s intentionally minimalistic. There’s no timer, auto-cook settings or smart connectivity – just straightforward gas power. However, LPG compatibility and an included conversion kit make it flexible if you’re on bottled gas, and as a 60cm integrated hob it will drop into most standard kitchen worktops without drama, provided installation is handled by the right professionals.
This is a premium-priced 60cm gas hob, especially when you consider that the core specification is four burners and manual controls. You’re not paying for advanced electronics or smart integration; instead, the value lies in design, build quality and brand appeal.
For many buyers, the combination of Smeg’s distinctive Victoria styling, cast iron supports, powerful wok burner and Italian manufacture will justify the higher spend, especially as a centrepiece in a carefully planned kitchen. If you simply want the cheapest way to boil pasta, there are more economical choices.
The strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 supports the idea that owners generally feel they’ve had good return on their investment, with the hob performing reliably and feeling robust in everyday use. If those are your priorities and you like the look, it offers solid value at the premium end of the market.
However, if you’re indifferent to brand and aesthetics and would prefer extra burners, timers or digital features for the same money, you may find better functional value elsewhere.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a stylish, well-built 60cm gas hob that focuses on doing the basics very well. It combines a strong wok burner, sturdy cast iron supports and simple rotary controls to deliver dependable, responsive gas cooking with a distinctly classic look.
It’s best suited to households that cook regularly, appreciate the control of gas and are willing to pay a bit more for design and perceived quality rather than a raft of modern features. The safety systems, LPG compatibility and solid user feedback all add to its appeal.
If you’re on a tight budget or craving extra zones, timers or smart functions, this probably isn’t the right match. But if you want a traditional-looking hob that feels premium under the pans and slots neatly into a stylish kitchen, the Victoria SR964NGH is a very strong contender.