Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that blends traditional styling with a solid, no-nonsense feature set. Finished in black enamel with chunky cast iron pan supports, it’s clearly aimed at buyers who want a statement look without straying into overly high-tech territory.
With four burners including a powerful wok zone, automatic ignition and key safety features, it covers the essentials for most family kitchens. The price sits at the more premium end for a standard 60cm gas hob, but a strong 4.8 out of 5 rating from owners suggests that people feel they’re getting what they pay for.
If you like the idea of a classic, range-style aesthetic in a compact footprint, and you’re happy to pay a little more for brand and build quality, this model is well worth a look.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for style-conscious homeowners who want a traditional, range-inspired look without committing to a full cooker. Its compact 60cm width works well in standard UK kitchens, flats and smaller family homes where space is tight but you still cook regularly.
With four burners and a dedicated ultra-rapid wok burner, it suits confident home cooks who enjoy stir-fries, searing and pan sauces, as well as everyday tasks like boiling pasta or simmering soups. It’s a good match if you like to have a couple of pans on the go at once, but don’t need the sprawling layout of a 5- or 6-burner hob.
Budget-wise, this is a premium choice rather than an entry-level buy. You’re paying for Smeg’s design, Italian build and cast iron supports as much as the core functions. If you simply want the cheapest possible gas hob, there are more basic options; if you value aesthetics and sturdier materials, this sits in the sweet spot.
It’s also well suited to those who prefer straightforward controls over touch panels and smart features. The front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition keep operation familiar, making it a comfortable upgrade for anyone moving from an older gas hob.
The standout feature here is the ultra-rapid wok burner, delivering up to 3.3 kW of heat. That gives you fast boiling times and the intense heat you need for proper stir-frying and searing, something many basic 60cm hobs struggle with.
The heavy-duty cast iron pan supports give the hob a sturdy, professional feel. They hold pans securely, cope well with heavy cookware and add to the premium, range-style look. For keen cooks, that extra stability can make everyday cooking feel more confident and controlled.
Automatic ignition built into the knobs keeps things simple – a twist is all it takes to light each burner. Combined with the clearly laid-out front controls, it makes the hob intuitive even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy.
Safety is well covered too. The flame failure device and automatic safety shut-off help cut the gas if the flame goes out, which is reassuring in busy family kitchens. Add in LPG compatibility with a kit included, and it’s flexible enough for homes running on bottled gas as well as mains supply.
For a four-burner 60cm gas hob, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits at a relatively high price, largely due to its branding and design rather than an extensive list of advanced features. If you’re purely focused on function per pound, some cheaper models offer a similar burner layout.
The enamel surface, while in keeping with the traditional look, can be slightly more prone to showing scratches and marks than some modern glass or stainless steel designs if not cared for carefully. It will need a bit of regular wiping down to keep it looking its best.
There’s no timer, child lock or digital display, which may disappoint buyers used to more feature-rich, modern hobs. You also need to factor in professional installation: both a Gas Safe engineer and an electrician are required, and the gas hose isn’t included, adding to the overall cost.
Finally, the warranty is a fairly standard 2 years. It’s respectable, but at this price some buyers might hope for a longer cover period for added peace of mind.
In day-to-day cooking, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH feels reassuringly solid. The cast iron supports form a continuous surface, so you can slide pans between burners without wobble. They’re weighty, which helps stability, though it does mean a little more effort when you lift them off for cleaning.
The front-mounted rotary dials are easy to see and reach, so you’re not stretching over hot pans to adjust the flame. The automatic ignition means you simply press and turn; there’s no separate ignition button or matches to worry about. The burner layout gives sensible spacing for typical pan sizes, though like most 60cm hobs, very large pots used together can feel a little crowded.
Cleaning is straightforward but requires a bit of routine. The enamel surface wipes down with a damp cloth and mild cleaner, and lifting off the pan supports gives good access to the burners. As with all enamel hobs, you’ll want to avoid harsh abrasives to keep the sheen and prevent dulling over time.
Once installed, there’s little ongoing faff. There are no filters, cartridges or software updates to think about – just turn the knobs and cook. For households that cook daily and want a dependable, familiar-feeling hob, that simplicity is a genuine plus.
Performance is centred on a sensible spread of burner powers, from around 1.05 kW up to a punchy 3.3 kW. The lower-powered zones are ideal for gentle simmering, melting and keeping sauces warm, while the mid-range burners handle everyday boiling and frying with ease. The ultra-rapid wok burner provides the extra oomph needed for rapid heating and high-heat cooking.
As a traditional gas hob, response is instant: you see the flame and feel the change in heat immediately when you turn the dials. That direct control is still a big advantage for many cooks compared with electric ceramic hobs, particularly when you’re juggling multiple pans.
Feature-wise, the Victoria SR964NGH is deliberately straightforward. There are no touch controls, timers or smart connectivity; instead you get robust basics done well. Automatic ignition on all burners avoids the annoyance of manual lighters, and the layout makes it easy to see which knob controls which burner at a glance.
Safety isn’t an afterthought. The flame failure safety device monitors each burner and cuts the gas if the flame is accidentally extinguished, while automatic safety shut-off adds another layer of reassurance. It’s LPG compatible and supplied with a conversion kit, so it’s suitable for properties without mains gas as long as it’s correctly set up by a professional.
This isn’t a feature-packed, high-tech hob; it’s a well-specified, classic gas hob with a powerful wok zone and premium materials. In a market crowded with cheaper, more basic models, the Smeg stands out for its design and build quality rather than bells and whistles.
At its asking price, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a premium option in the 60cm gas hob space. You can certainly find four-burner hobs for considerably less, but they’re unlikely to match the Smeg’s combination of styling, heavy cast iron supports and ultra-rapid wok burner.
Where it earns its keep is in day-to-day feel and long-term satisfaction. Owners have rated it around 4.8 out of 5, which is an excellent score and suggests very few regrets after purchase. That strong feedback helps justify the extra spend, especially if you care about how your kitchen looks as much as how it performs.
If your main priority is simply to get gas flames on a tight budget, this probably isn’t the right choice. But if you’re planning a nicer kitchen, want a hob that visually ties in with range-style appliances, and you cook often enough to appreciate the sturdier build and stronger burner, the Victoria SR964NGH offers good value within the premium bracket.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm gas hob is a classy, well-built option for anyone who wants traditional styling and solid performance in a standard-size cut-out. The combination of a powerful wok burner, sturdy cast iron supports and straightforward rotary controls makes it a joy to use for everything from quick midweek meals to more ambitious weekend cooking.
You are paying a premium for the Smeg name and the design, and you don’t get modern extras like timers, child locks or touch controls. Installation costs also need to be factored in, as both gas and electrical work are required. For some households, a more basic and cheaper hob will make more financial sense.
If, however, you’re updating a kitchen and want a compact hob that looks the part, feels robust under heavy pans and has enough power to keep keen cooks happy, the Victoria SR964NGH is a very strong contender. It’s a stylish, dependable choice for those willing to invest in a higher-end gas hob.