Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that blends classic styling with a solid, practical cooking setup. Finished in black enamel with chunky cast iron pan supports, it’s clearly aimed at those who like a more traditional look but still want modern reliability.
With four burners including a powerful ultra-rapid wok zone, automatic ignition and flame failure safety, it covers the essentials confidently rather than chasing gimmicks. The price puts it in the more premium bracket for a 60cm gas hob, reflecting Smeg’s positioning as a design-led brand.
Owners rate it very highly, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from a decent number of reviews, which suggests that day-to-day performance and build quality live up to the smart appearance.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is well suited to households that cook regularly and want something that feels robust and looks the part in a more traditional or country-style kitchen. The enamel surface and cast iron supports complement range cookers and shaker-style cabinetry particularly well.
It’s a strong fit for keen home cooks who like to use a variety of pans, including woks and larger casseroles. The inclusion of an ultra-rapid wok burner means you can comfortably tackle stir-fries, searing and rapid boiling without waiting around.
Given its price and Smeg branding, it’s more of a mid-to-premium choice than a budget buy. If you’re simply after the cheapest way to boil pasta, there are more basic options. But if you value design, a solid feel and dependable performance over lots of extras, this model hits a sweet spot.
It also suits anyone converting to LPG in a rural home or static caravan, as it’s LPG compatible and comes with a conversion kit included, provided you’re happy to have a Gas Safe engineer handle installation.
The four-burner layout is practical and familiar, giving enough space to run multiple pans at once without feeling cramped on a standard 60cm worktop. Three different burner sizes make it easier to match heat output to the pan you’re using, from small saucepans to large frying pans.
The ultra-rapid wok burner is a real highlight, delivering quick, intense heat up to 3.3 kW. That extra power makes a noticeable difference when you want properly hot stir-fries, a fast rolling boil for pasta, or rapid reductions.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the hob a premium, professional feel. They’re robust, stable and help keep heavier pans from wobbling, which is reassuring when you’re cooking with full pots of stock or big frying pans.
Everyday operation is straightforward thanks to front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition. You simply press and turn to light the burner, so there’s no separate spark button to juggle.
Safety is well covered too, with both automatic safety shut off and flame failure devices. If a flame goes out unexpectedly, the gas supply is cut, which is especially important in busy family kitchens.
There’s no built-in timer or control panel lock, so you’ll need to rely on a separate kitchen timer and be a little more mindful if you have curious children who can reach the front controls.
The enamel surface, while attractive, is typically more prone to showing marks and may need a bit more care during cleaning compared with some modern glass or stainless finishes. Cast iron supports are also heavier and can be a little awkward to lift off for a quick wipe-down.
For the price, some buyers might expect a few more convenience touches, such as more advanced controls or extra burner flexibility. This model focuses on doing the basics very well rather than offering lots of extra features.
Finally, there’s no gas hose included, and the hob requires both a Gas Safe engineer for installation and an electrician to attach a plug or cable, which adds to the overall setup cost if you’re starting from scratch.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be straightforward and reassuringly solid. The front-mounted rotary dials are easy to see and reach, so you’re not reaching over hot pans to adjust the flame, and the automatic ignition makes lighting each burner a one-handed job.
The cast iron pan supports create a continuous, stable surface, which makes shifting pans between burners smoother and reduces the risk of smaller pans tipping. Their weight also helps them sit firmly in place during vigorous stirring or when moving heavy pots.
Heat control is responsive, as you’d expect from a gas hob, and the range from 1.05 kW up to the 3.3 kW wok burner gives you decent flexibility from gentle simmering through to fast searing. The different burner sizes mean you can choose the most efficient spot for each pan rather than running everything on oversize rings.
Cleaning is a little more involved than on some flat glass hobs, because you first need to lift off the cast iron supports and burner caps. However, the enamel surface is smooth, so once exposed it can be wiped clean without too much fuss if you stay on top of spills.
In performance terms, this hob delivers exactly what most busy home kitchens need. The burner power range of 1.05 to 3.3 kW covers low, medium and high-heat cooking with ease, and the ultra-rapid burner steps in when you need a serious blast of heat for wok cooking or getting large pots up to temperature quickly.
The four-burner configuration with three different burner sizes is well balanced for a 60cm hob. You can comfortably run a couple of large pans and two smaller ones at the same time, making it suitable for everything from weeknight dinners to more involved weekend cooking sessions.
Automatic ignition on each burner is a welcome standard feature, providing a cleaner, more modern experience than using matches or a separate spark igniter. The flame failure safety device and automatic safety shut off underline that this is a modern gas appliance despite its classic styling, cutting gas supply if a flame goes out or something goes wrong.
The enamel surface and cast iron supports are chosen as much for aesthetics as practicality. They give the hob a substantial, traditional look that pairs nicely with other Smeg Victoria appliances, while still feeling durable for regular, heavy use.
Installation-wise, the hob is compatible with both natural gas and LPG, and comes with a conversion kit included. That flexibility is a major plus if you live in an area without mains gas or are planning to move the appliance to a different property or fuel type later on.
This Smeg Victoria hob sits toward the premium end of the 60cm gas hob market, reflecting both the brand’s reputation and the design-led finish. You’re paying partly for styling and build quality rather than an exhaustive feature list.
If you compare it with cheaper, basic hobs, the price difference may feel significant, especially considering the lack of extras like timers or child locks. However, the strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 suggests that owners feel they’ve received a reliable, well-made appliance that justifies its cost in daily use.
For buyers who want a stylish, traditional-looking hob with solid performance, good safety features and LPG flexibility, the overall value is appealing. Those on a tight budget or who don’t care about design might see better value in simpler, lower-cost models, but for its intended audience this Smeg offers a convincing blend of looks and longevity.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed 60cm gas hob that focuses on doing the fundamentals properly. It combines a powerful wok burner, sturdy cast iron supports and straightforward controls with classic styling that will appeal to anyone building a traditional or farmhouse-style kitchen.
It’s not the most feature-packed hob for the money, and the lack of a timer or control lock may put off those seeking maximum convenience or with very young children. Cleaning also demands a little more effort than some sleeker, glass-topped alternatives.
However, if you prioritise reliable heat, a robust feel and a timeless look over gimmicks, this Smeg is an excellent choice. Strong owner reviews back up its performance, making it a compelling option for cooks who want a handsome, dependable gas hob they can enjoy using every day.