Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm gas hob is a stylish built-in model that blends traditional looks with reliable everyday performance. Finished in black enamel with chunky cast iron pan supports, it’s clearly aimed at anyone who wants their hob to be a design feature as much as a workhorse.
With four burners including a powerful wok zone, automatic ignition and flame failure safety, it covers the key basics well. The rotary dials are simple and familiar, which will suit households who prefer straightforward controls over touch panels and displays.
Owner feedback is very strong, with an average 4.8 out of 5 from buyers, suggesting that most people are extremely happy with how it performs once installed.
This hob is ideal for small to medium-sized households that cook regularly and want something dependable rather than overly high-tech. The standard 60cm width and four-burner layout make it a good fit for most UK kitchens, including flats and typical family homes.
It suits keen home cooks who like to juggle a few pans at once. The inclusion of an ultra-rapid wok burner means it’s particularly appealing if you stir-fry, sear steaks in a large pan or often cook with bigger pots that need a strong, even flame.
In budget terms it sits in the more premium end of the 60cm gas hob market, reflecting both the Smeg name and the classic Victoria styling. If you’re working to a tight budget there are cheaper, plainer hobs, but if you’re investing in a coordinated Smeg or traditional-style kitchen, this will feel like a worthwhile upgrade.
It’s also a sensible choice for users who want something intuitive. There’s no touch control, timer or lock to get to grips with, just front-mounted rotary knobs and automatic ignition, so it’s well suited to anyone who prefers conventional gas controls.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat for stir-fries, boiling large pots of water or getting a pan searing hot in seconds. It makes a noticeable difference if you often cook on high heat.
Cast iron pan supports give the hob a solid, high-quality feel. They hold pans securely, cope well with heavy cookware and add to the traditional aesthetic, which is a big part of the Victoria range’s appeal.
Automatic ignition built into the controls makes lighting each burner simple and reliable – no need for separate lighters or matches. Combined with clearly laid-out front controls and a standard four-burner arrangement, it’s very straightforward to use.
Safety is well covered too, thanks to flame failure devices and automatic safety shut off. If a flame goes out, the gas supply is cut, offering welcome peace of mind in busy family kitchens.
The hob is LPG compatible and supplied with a conversion kit, so it’s flexible enough for homes without mains gas or for holiday properties using bottled gas.
This is a relatively premium-priced 60cm gas hob, and while the build and styling are strong, it doesn’t offer advanced extras like timers, power boost controls or digital displays that some similarly priced rivals include.
The enamel surface, while attractive in black, can be a little more time-consuming to keep spotless than stainless steel or glass, especially around the burners where spills can bake on.
There’s no control panel lock, so households with very young children may prefer a model with a dedicated child safety feature in addition to the flame failure devices.
Finally, the standard 2-year warranty is decent but not class-leading; some competitors in the same price bracket offer longer cover when registered.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be as familiar as any traditional gas hob. The front-mounted rotary dials are easy to see and reach, so you’re not leaning over hot pans to adjust the flame. Automatic ignition is built into the knobs – press, twist and the burner lights – which feels efficient and fuss-free.
The four burners are spaced sensibly for a 60cm hob, and the cast iron pan supports create a stable, continuous cooking surface. Sliding pans from one burner to another feels secure, which is particularly useful when juggling multiple dishes or using heavier cast iron cookware.
Cleaning is fairly typical for an enamel gas hob: the pan supports lift off for a wipe-down, and the black finish helps hide minor marks, although spills around the burners still need prompt attention to avoid staining. There’s no self-cleaning trickery here, but the flat, low-profile design keeps awkward crevices to a minimum.
Installation requires both an electrician (to attach a plug or cable) and a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the gas hose is not included. Once fitted, though, there’s little to manage beyond occasional cleaning and, if needed, the optional LPG conversion which is made easier by the supplied kit.
In terms of core cooking performance, the SR964NGH covers the essentials confidently. The burner power range runs from 1.05 kW up to a punchy 3.3 kW on the ultra-rapid burner, giving you fine control from gentle simmering through to powerful, rolling boils. Having three different burner sizes across the four zones helps match the flame to everything from small saucepans to large stockpots.
The dedicated wok burner is a highlight. Its higher output and broader flame pattern deliver strong, even heat across the base of a wok or large frying pan, making it ideal for quick stir-fries and high-heat cooking where standard burners can struggle. It’s also handy for big pans of pasta or batch cooking, cutting waiting times.
Safety has been sensibly addressed with flame failure safety devices on the burners and automatic safety shut off. If a pan boils over or a draught blows the flame out, the gas supply is automatically cut, which is an important reassurance with open-flame cooking.
Construction-wise, the enamel surface and cast iron supports give the hob a robust feel and a more traditional look than sleek glass or steel models. While there are no smart functions, Wi-Fi or touch sliders, everything about the layout and feature set is geared towards straightforward, reliable gas cooking.
The hob is also LPG compatible and convertible, and the inclusion of the LPG kit out of the box is a practical bonus for rural homes or properties relying on bottled gas, avoiding extra hassle and cost later on.
This is positioned as a premium 60cm gas hob, and the price reflects the Smeg badge and the Victoria range’s distinctive styling. Purely on features, there are cheaper hobs that will also give you four burners and automatic ignition, so if you’re on a strict budget you can certainly spend less.
Where the SR964NGH earns its keep is in build quality, design and the inclusion of a powerful wok burner and solid cast iron supports as standard. For many buyers, especially those putting together a coordinated Smeg or country-style kitchen, those touches justify paying more than a basic stainless model.
The strong 4.8 out of 5 average owner rating, backed by a healthy number of reviews, suggests that most users feel they’ve had good value for what they paid. If you want a reliable, good-looking hob and are happy to pay a little extra for brand and aesthetics rather than advanced electronics, it represents sound value.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed 60cm gas hob that combines traditional looks with modern safety and a powerful cooking performance. The ultra-rapid wok burner, cast iron supports and simple automatic ignition make it a pleasure to cook on for everyday meals and more ambitious dishes alike.
It’s not the most feature-packed hob at this price – there’s no timer, child lock or digital controls – and the enamel surface needs a bit of care to keep looking its best. But if you prioritise design, solid construction and straightforward gas control over bells and whistles, it hits a very appealing sweet spot.
Overall, it’s a strong choice for style-conscious households and keen home cooks who want a dependable, attractive hob that will happily handle anything from weekday pasta to weekend stir-fries.