Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that blends Smeg’s retro styling with a practical four-burner layout. Finished in black enamel with chunky rotary dials and cast iron pan supports, it’s designed to look as good as it cooks.
This is very much a mid‑range to premium choice for those who prefer the immediacy and control of gas. You’re paying for design and build quality as well as the spec, including an ultra-rapid wok burner and automatic ignition.
With a 4.8 out of 5 rating from owners, feedback is overwhelmingly positive, suggesting that real-world performance and ease of use live up to the smart looks.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH suits households that cook most days and want the classic feel of gas with a bit of flair. The four-burner layout is ideal for couples and families who regularly juggle a few pans at once.
It’s a strong fit if you enjoy stir-fries, searing and fast boiling. The dedicated ultra‑rapid wok burner delivers intense heat quickly, making it well suited to keen home cooks who like to experiment beyond simple one‑pot meals.
Design-conscious buyers will also appreciate it. The black enamel surface, front‑mounted metal dials and robust cast iron pan supports are made to complement a more traditional or retro-style kitchen, especially when paired with other Smeg Victoria appliances.
If you’re on a tight budget or only cook occasionally, the price and feature set may be more than you strictly need. But if you want a reliable, attractive hob that feels a step up from basic models without going into high-end specialist territory, it’s right in the sweet spot.
The four-burner layout is practical and well balanced, giving you a mix of burner sizes to handle everything from gentle simmering to large family pans. Having three different burner sizes makes it easier to match the flame to the cookware and avoid wasted heat.
The ultra‑rapid wok burner is a genuine highlight. It delivers quick, intense heat that’s perfect for woks, big stock pots and rapid boiling, giving you more flexibility than a standard four-burner hob usually offers.
Cast iron pan supports are a premium touch. They feel solid, give pans a stable base and cope well with heavy cookware, helping to reduce rattling and the risk of wobble when you’re cooking at higher heats.
Everyday operation is straightforward thanks to the front‑mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition. There’s no separate ignition button to press, and having the controls at the front keeps you from reaching over hot pans.
On the safety side, the flame failure device and automatic safety shut off add peace of mind, cutting the gas if the flame goes out unexpectedly.
There’s no timer or control panel lock, both of which are becoming more common on modern hobs. Families with small children may particularly miss a dedicated control lock.
The enamel surface, while attractive, generally needs a bit more care to keep looking pristine than some stainless steel or glass alternatives; spills left to dry can require extra effort to clean around the pan supports.
Installation isn’t plug‑and‑play: it requires both a Gas Safe engineer for the gas connection and an electrician to attach a plug or cable, and the gas hose is not included. That’s standard for many built-in gas hobs, but it does add to the overall cost.
Finally, the two-year warranty is decent but not exceptional at this price point, where some rivals offer longer cover.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to feel reassuringly solid and fuss‑free. The automatic ignition means burners spark up as you turn the dials, so there’s no juggling a separate igniter or matches when your hands are full.
The front control layout is intuitive: you can see and reach every dial without leaning over hot pans. The clear spacing between burners and the three different burner sizes make it easy to choose the right zone for each pan, whether you’re simmering a sauce or blasting heat under a wok.
The cast iron pan supports create a continuous cooking surface so you can slide pans carefully between burners, handy when you want to move something off the fierce wok flame to a gentler burner. They do add a bit of weight when you lift them for cleaning, but their stability and premium feel are worth it.
Cleaning is typical for a traditional gas hob. The enamel surface wipes down reasonably well if you tackle spills promptly, and the removable pan supports and burner caps let you get into corners. You won’t find self-cleaning gimmicks here, but maintenance is straightforward once you’re in the habit of a quick wipe after cooking.
At the heart of the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a four‑burner layout with a burner power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW. That spread gives you both low, steady heat for delicate tasks and serious power for high‑temperature cooking.
The standout feature is the ultra‑rapid wok burner. At up to 3.3 kW, it delivers the intense, focused flame you need for proper stir‑fries, fast boiling and searing. It also makes light work of large pots of pasta or soups, cutting down waiting time compared with a standard burner.
The remaining burners are laid out to cater for everyday cooking, with smaller zones for simmering and medium burners for general use. Having three different burner sizes gives you better control over energy use and helps avoid scorching when you’re working with smaller pans.
Safety is well covered. A flame failure safety device monitors each burner and stops the gas flow if the flame goes out, while the automatic safety shut off provides an extra layer of protection. Automatic ignition across all burners not only adds convenience but minimises the time gas is flowing before the flame catches.
In terms of construction, the enamel surface offers a smart black finish that pairs nicely with other Smeg Victoria appliances, while the cast iron supports feel robust enough for daily use. There are no smart connectivity or touch-control frills, but for many home cooks that’s a positive: it’s a traditional gas hob that focuses on core performance rather than extras you may never use.
With a current price of £429, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits towards the upper end of the 60cm gas hob market. You’re paying a premium over basic four‑burner models, but you are also getting a more upmarket design, sturdier build and that powerful wok burner.
For buyers drawn to Smeg’s styling and Italian build, the price is easier to justify. The cast iron supports, automatic ignition, LPG compatibility (with conversion kit included) and solid safety features all contribute to a sense of a well‑rounded, long‑term purchase rather than a stopgap appliance.
The strong 4.8/5 owner rating suggests that most people feel they’ve had good value from it, both in performance and day‑to‑day usability. If you simply want the cheapest 60cm hob, this isn’t it. But if you’re happy to spend a bit more for a hob that looks the part, feels robust and cooks confidently, it represents fair value.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a stylish, well‑made gas hob that delivers exactly what most keen home cooks want: responsive heat, a genuinely powerful wok burner and a reassuringly solid cooking surface. Its traditional rotary controls and automatic ignition keep things simple, while safety features are quietly working in the background.
It’s not the cheapest option, and you don’t get extras like timers, touch controls or a child lock. The enamel surface also rewards a bit of regular cleaning effort. But these are relatively minor compromises if you prioritise classic looks and dependable performance over bells and whistles.
If you’re upgrading a busy family kitchen or finishing off a Smeg‑themed cooking space, this hob is a strong contender. Those on a tighter budget or after more advanced electronic features might look elsewhere, but for a premium‑feeling, no‑nonsense gas hob with character, the Victoria SR964NGH is easy to recommend.