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 match Smeg’s retro-inspired Victoria range while offering the control and immediacy that gas fans love. With four burners, including an ultra-rapid wok burner, it’s aimed squarely at busy households that like to cook properly rather than just reheat.
This is a premium-brand hob rather than an entry-level option, and the enamel surface with chunky cast iron pan supports gives it a reassuringly solid feel. Automatic ignition, flame failure safety and front-mounted rotary controls keep things straightforward.
Owners rate it highly, with a 4.8 out of 5 score from user reviews, suggesting that the combination of looks, performance and usability lives up to expectations in real kitchens.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH suits anyone who wants a traditional-looking hob with modern safety and a bit of extra punch for more adventurous cooking. If you often stir-fry, sear steaks in a heavy pan or bring large pots to the boil quickly, the dedicated ultra-rapid wok burner will be a real advantage.
Its 60cm width makes it ideal for standard UK kitchens, from flats to family homes, where worktop space is at a premium but you still need four usable burners. The three different burner sizes cover everything from gentle simmering to high-heat cooking, so it works well for everyday meals as well as weekend feasts.
With its premium brand, integrated design and classic black finish, it’s better suited to buyers willing to pay a bit more for style and build quality rather than those chasing the cheapest possible option. It’s a strong choice for confident home cooks upgrading an older hob, or anyone putting together a coordinated Smeg Victoria kitchen.
If you’re after lots of tech features, smart connectivity or a built-in timer, you may find this a little too traditional, but for those who value simplicity and tactile controls it’s right on the money.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat for stir-fries, searing and rapid boiling – something cheaper four-burner hobs often lack. It makes a noticeable difference when you’re cooking with larger pans or need high heat on demand.
Cast iron pan supports give the hob a high-end, professional look and feel. They’re sturdy and stable, so heavy casserole dishes and frying pans feel secure, and they’re more durable over time than lightweight enamel supports.
Every burner has automatic ignition built into the rotary knobs, so you just turn and press to light – there’s no need for matches or a separate ignition button. The front-mounted controls are easy to reach without leaning over hot pans, which is safer and more comfortable.
Safety is well covered with flame failure devices and automatic safety shut-off, cutting the gas if a flame goes out. With a strong 4.8/5 user rating and a 2-year manufacturer warranty, there’s good reassurance that the hob performs reliably day to day.
There’s no built-in timer or control panel lock, so if you like to set a burner and have the hob remind you, you’ll still be relying on a separate kitchen timer or your oven controls. Households with curious children may also miss the extra reassurance of a control lock.
The enamel surface looks smart but won’t be quite as easy to wipe down as some premium glass or steel tops, especially around the burner caps and beneath the cast iron supports, which you’ll need to lift off for a thorough clean.
You do need both an electrician and a Gas Safe engineer for proper installation, and the gas hose isn’t included, so there may be additional fitting costs to factor in. Finally, as a four-burner 60cm hob, it doesn’t offer the extra flexibility of a five-burner layout if you regularly cook with multiple large pans at once.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be simple and predictable. The front-mounted rotary dials give positive feedback and make it easy to fine-tune the flame, from a gentle simmer for sauces right up to a roaring boil on the ultra-rapid burner.
All four burners feature automatic ignition, so you don’t have to juggle matches or click a separate ignition button – just press and turn. Once lit, the cast iron pan supports give a reassuringly stable base, especially important for large pots of pasta or heavy cast iron cookware.
The 60cm footprint means it drops into a standard cut-out and doesn’t dominate the worktop, yet the layout of the four burners gives enough space to have several pans on the go without feeling cramped for typical family cooking.
Cleaning is straightforward but slightly more involved than on a flat glass hob: you’ll need to lift off the cast iron supports and wipe the enamel surface underneath. The smooth enamel should clean up well with regular care, but spills left to bake on may need a bit more elbow grease.
In performance terms, the burner power range from 1.05 kW to 3.3 kW gives a good spread for different tasks. The smaller burners are ideal for simmering and gentle heating, while the ultra-rapid burner delivers enough heat for wok cooking and fast boiling without feeling underpowered.
The dedicated wok burner is a real asset if you cook a lot of stir-fries or dishes that need intense, even heat across the base of a larger pan. Being able to get a pan properly hot quickly helps food sear rather than stew, lifting the final result.
The enamel hob surface and cast iron supports offer a nice blend of traditional looks and robustness. Cast iron not only looks the part but helps keep pans level and secure, even when you’re moving them around from one burner to another.
On the safety front, this hob includes flame failure safety devices and automatic safety shut-off, both of which are increasingly expected on quality gas hobs. They cut the gas supply if a flame blows out or the hob is left on in unsafe conditions, adding peace of mind, especially in family kitchens.
Although it doesn’t add advanced electronics, timers or smart functions, the SR964NGH focuses on strong core gas performance and reassuring safety features. For many cooks, that combination is preferable to more complex controls that can be fiddly or less intuitive.
At around £399, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits in the premium bracket for a 60cm, four-burner gas hob. You’re clearly paying for the Smeg name, the matching Victoria aesthetic and the use of durable materials like cast iron, rather than a long list of advanced electronic features.
Where it earns its keep is in everyday cooking performance and the feel of the hardware. The ultra-rapid wok burner, strong pan supports and solid rotary controls all contribute to a more satisfying experience than you typically get on basic budget hobs.
The excellent 4.8/5 owner rating and 2-year warranty also support the case for good value over the long term. If you simply want the cheapest functional hob, this isn’t it, but if you’re investing in a stylish, reliable centrepiece for a new or upgraded kitchen, the price is fair for what you get.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed 60cm gas hob that combines classic styling with strong, straightforward performance. The ultra-rapid wok burner, robust cast iron supports and intuitive front controls make it a pleasure to cook on, and safety is sensibly covered with flame failure devices and automatic shut-off.
It’s not a feature-packed, tech-heavy hob, and you’ll need to accept the lack of a timer or control lock, plus a slightly more involved clean than on a flat glass surface. You’re also paying a premium for the Smeg branding and design.
If you’re upgrading a standard hob and want something that looks smart, feels solid and delivers reliable heat with minimal fuss, this model is a very strong choice. Style-conscious home cooks who value traditional gas control over gadgets will get the most from it; those who want more burners or advanced programming may be better served by a larger or more modern-styled alternative.