The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob in black, aimed at anyone who wants traditional gas cooking with a touch of retro style. With four burners, chunky cast iron pan supports and simple rotary controls, it’s designed to feel reassuringly familiar rather than high-tech.
Smeg sits firmly in the premium bracket, and the price of this model reflects that. You’re paying for the brand’s design and build quality as much as the core specification.
Owners clearly rate it highly: an average 4.8 out of 5 from 16 reviews suggests it’s performing well in real kitchens, with very few issues reported.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH suits households that love the control and immediacy of gas cooking and want a hob that looks as good as it cooks. Its 60cm width and four-burner layout make it a natural fit for flats, smaller family kitchens and standard replacement installations.
It’s a strong choice for keen home cooks who regularly juggle multiple pans. The inclusion of an ultra-rapid wok burner gives you the high heat you need for stir-fries, searing steaks or bringing large pans of water to the boil quickly.
Budget-wise, this is more of a mid-to-premium pick rather than an entry-level hob. If you’re upgrading a tired basic unit and want something more substantial under your pots and pans, it’s likely to appeal.
If you prefer a wealth of digital features, timers and touch controls, this won’t be the right fit. But for those who value robust construction, classic styling and straightforward operation, it’s very well matched.
The standout feature is the powerful ultra-rapid wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat. That’s ideal for authentic stir-fries, deep pans and speedy boiling, giving you more flexibility than four identical burners.
Full-width cast iron pan supports provide a solid, professional feel. They make it easy to slide pans around without lifting, and they’re more durable than the lighter enamelled supports found on cheaper hobs.
Automatic ignition combined with large, front-mounted rotary dials keeps operation simple and intuitive. You can tweak the flame with one hand, and there’s no separate ignition button to faff with.
Safety is good for a gas hob at this level, with automatic safety shut off and flame failure devices to cut the gas if a flame goes out. It’s also LPG compatible, with a conversion kit included, which is a big plus if your home isn’t on mains gas.
There’s no timer or control panel lock, which some similarly priced hobs now include. If you like the idea of built-in timers for pasta or simmering sauces, you’ll need to rely on your oven or a separate kitchen timer.
The enamel surface, while attractive, can show marks more readily than some modern glass or steel tops and may take a bit more care to keep looking pristine, especially in black.
As a premium-branded four-burner hob, you’re paying more for design and build than for extra features. If you just want the lowest-cost basic gas hob, this will feel expensive.
The 2-year manufacturer warranty is decent but not outstanding at this price point, where some rivals occasionally offer longer cover.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be straightforward. Automatic ignition means burners light with a twist of the dial, and the front-mounted controls are easy to see and reach without leaning over hot pans.
The four burners are arranged to give you a good spread of power, with three different burner sizes to match everything from small milk pans to large casseroles. The wok burner is particularly handy when you’re cooking for a crowd or need a strong, even flame.
The continuous cast iron supports feel sturdy when you’re moving heavier cookware, and they help keep pans stable. They are weighty, though, so lifting them off for cleaning takes a little effort, but once removed the relatively flat enamel surface is simple enough to wipe down.
Installation is standard for a built-in gas hob. It requires a Gas Safe engineer for the gas connection and an electrician to attach the plug or cable, so factor that into your plans if you’re replacing an older unit.
In performance terms, the SR964NGH focuses on strong, reliable gas power rather than gimmicks. With a burner power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW, it covers gentle simmering through to vigorous boiling. The ultra-rapid wok burner stands out for its ability to deliver intense heat quickly, making high-heat cooking tasks noticeably faster and more responsive.
Three different burner sizes help match flame size to pan diameter, improving efficiency and control. Being able to drop down to a lower-output burner for delicate sauces or chocolate, then shift up to the wok burner for searing, makes the hob genuinely versatile.
Safety has been taken seriously. A flame failure safety device is fitted on the burners to cut gas if the flame goes out unexpectedly, and an automatic safety shut off adds another layer of protection. For households with children or pets, that extra peace of mind is valuable.
Convenience features are deliberately simple: rotary controls, automatic ignition and robust pan supports. There are no touch controls, display or timer, but the hob is LPG compatible and supplied with a conversion kit, which significantly widens where it can be used, from rural homes to holiday properties.
Overall, the feature set is focused and traditional, but executed with quality materials and thoughtful burner layout rather than lots of electronics.
This Smeg hob sits at the premium end of the 60cm four-burner gas market, owing largely to its brand, styling and build quality. You can certainly find cheaper hobs with four burners, but they’re unlikely to match the Victoria’s finish, pan support quality or overall feel.
Given the strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 16 reviews, most owners appear to feel they’ve got what they paid for. The inclusion of features like the ultra-rapid wok burner, full cast iron supports, flame safety systems and LPG conversion kit all help justify the higher price compared with bare-bones models.
If your priority is the lowest initial outlay, this probably isn’t the best value choice. However, if you’re investing in a long-term upgrade for a kitchen you care about, the combination of design, performance and safety makes the SR964NGH a solid value proposition within the premium bracket.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed, traditional gas hob with premium styling and a useful performance boost from its ultra-rapid wok burner. It’s clearly resonated with owners, who rate it highly for everyday cooking.
It’s best suited to households that prefer straightforward rotary controls and solid engineering over digital extras. The enamel surface and absence of timers or a child lock may put off those who want the latest tech or ultra-easy cleaning, but the essentials are done very well.
If you’re upgrading from a basic 60cm hob and want something that feels sturdier, looks smarter and offers stronger high-heat performance, this Smeg is an excellent option. Those on tighter budgets or looking for lots of smart features may be better off exploring alternatives, but as a stylish, dependable gas hob, the SR964NGH is hard to fault.
