Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob with four burners and traditional rotary controls, finished in a smart black enamel. It’s part of Smeg’s retro-inspired Victoria range, so it’s designed to look as good as it cooks.
With sturdy cast iron pan supports, automatic ignition and a powerful wok burner, it’s clearly aimed at households that prefer responsive gas heat and do a fair bit of cooking from scratch. At this price it sits in the premium end of standard 60cm gas hobs, leaning more on design and build quality than sheer bells and whistles.
Owners rate it very highly, with a 4.8 out of 5 score from user reviews, suggesting that in day-to-day use it delivers the reliability and control you’d expect from a well-regarded Italian brand.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for style-conscious buyers who want their hob to match a traditional or retro-style kitchen. If you already have, or are considering, other Smeg Victoria appliances, this hob will slot in visually and give your cooker run a coordinated, high-end look.
It suits small to medium households who cook regularly but don’t need a huge bank of burners. Four zones with three different sizes and a dedicated wok burner cover everything from simmering sauces to fast stir-fries and big one-pot meals.
Given the price, it’s best suited to mid-range and premium kitchen projects rather than the tightest budgets. You’re paying for a combination of Italian build quality, sturdy materials and design rather than a long list of clever electronics.
If you’re a confident home cook who prefers the instant response of gas, likes the feel of tactile dials and wants a hob that feels robust under heavy pans, this model is a strong fit. If you need ultra-precise digital controls or built-in timers, you may be better off with a more feature-laden alternative.
The integrated wok burner is the standout feature, delivering quick, intense heat that’s perfect for stir-fries, searing meat or getting large pots up to the boil rapidly. It gives you more versatility than a basic four-burner layout with all standard burners.
Cast iron pan supports are another big plus. They feel solid, keep heavy pans stable and give the hob a professional, high-quality look. They’re built to handle daily use far better than flimsier enamelled wire designs.
Everyday operation is straightforward thanks to front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition. You simply turn and light, with no separate ignition button to fiddle with.
On the safety front, the flame failure device and automatic safety shut-off add peace of mind, cutting the gas if the flame is accidentally blown out. It’s also LPG compatible and supplied with a conversion kit, so it works equally well in homes that aren’t on mains gas.
Finally, the slim 3cm profile and standard 60cm width make it an easy upgrade for most existing cut-outs while still offering a generous cooking area.
There’s no timer or control panel lock, which some families might miss, especially if you’re used to more modern hobs with built-in timers for pasta, rice or gentle simmering.
The enamel surface looks smart but can mark more easily than glass or stainless steel if you’re rough with heavy cast iron pans, and it may need a bit of care to keep it looking pristine.
With only four burners, serious batch cooks or larger households who like to have several big pans on the go at once might find it limiting. A five-burner layout with a central wok burner offers more flexibility for very busy kitchens.
Lastly, the two-year warranty is decent but not outstanding at this price point, where some rivals offer longer cover for peace of mind.
Living with the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is all about straightforward gas cooking with a premium feel. The front-mounted rotary dials are clearly laid out and easy to grip, so setting the flame size is intuitive even if you’re not especially tech-savvy.
Automatic ignition means you can light each burner in one smooth motion, which is especially handy when you’re juggling several pans or turning on the wok burner under a heavy wok. The range of burner powers from 1.05 to 3.3 kW gives you good control from a gentle simmer through to a rolling boil.
The cast iron pan supports create a level, continuous surface, making it easy to slide pans around without lifting them. They’re weighty and reassuring, which helps when you’re using large stockpots or deep frying. They do add a bit of heft when you lift them off for cleaning, but they feel like they’ll last.
Cleaning is reasonably straightforward: the enamel surface can be wiped down once it’s cool, and the supports and burner caps can be lifted off for a deeper clean. There are no touch panels or digital displays to smear, so maintenance is mostly about regular wiping rather than fiddly detailing.
Installation-wise, it’s an integrated hob that will need a Gas Safe registered engineer to connect the gas, and an electrician to attach a plug or cable. That’s standard for this type of appliance, but worth factoring into your plans.
For core cooking performance, this hob covers the essentials very well. The four gas burners span a power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW, giving you a wide spread for different tasks. The smallest burner is well suited to simmering sauces or keeping food warm, while the higher-powered burners bring water to the boil quickly and cope with larger pans.
The ultra-rapid wok burner is the key performance upgrade over basic hobs. Positioned to handle large woks and big pans, it delivers a strong, concentrated flame that’s ideal for fast, high-heat cooking. If you regularly cook stir-fries, curries or anything that benefits from a fierce flame, this is a real asset.
In terms of build, the enamel hob surface and cast iron pan supports combine durability with classic looks. Cast iron supports hold heat well and feel rock solid under pots, and the enamel top gives a smooth, wipeable surface that sits neatly into most worktops. The 60cm width is standard, so it fits well in typical UK kitchens.
Feature-wise, this is deliberately simple rather than packed with electronics. You get automatic ignition, front controls, and key safety measures like flame failure cut-off and automatic safety shut-off. There’s no integrated timer, smart connectivity or touch control, but the upside is fewer things to go wrong and a very intuitive interface.
The hob is LPG compatible and supplied with a conversion kit, which is a practical bonus if you live in a rural area or are planning a kitchen in a property without mains gas. Combined with a modest 3-amp fuse rating, it’s not a heavy electrical load on your household circuits.
This Smeg sits at the pricier end of standard 60cm gas hobs, largely because of its premium brand, coordinated Victoria styling and solid materials. You’re paying a bit extra compared with basic stainless steel or enamel hobs from value brands.
In return, you get a powerful wok burner, robust cast iron supports, good safety features and an integrated look that will complement a higher-end kitchen. For many buyers, especially those building a Smeg-themed range of appliances, that will feel like money well spent.
The strong 4.8 out of 5 user rating and positive feedback from owners help justify the price, suggesting that reliability and day-to-day performance live up to expectations. If you’re simply after the cheapest way to get four gas burners, there are more economical options, but if design and build quality matter, the SR964NGH represents decent value.
Overall, it offers fair value for shoppers who see their hob as a long-term part of a stylish kitchen rather than a purely functional purchase.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-made, attractive 60cm gas hob that delivers reliable performance with a strong dose of classic style. The combination of a powerful wok burner, sturdy cast iron supports and simple rotary controls makes it a pleasure to cook on for most day-to-day tasks.
It’s not the most feature-packed hob on the market, and the lack of timer or control lock may put off those who favour more modern, safety-focused designs or families with very young children. You’re also paying a premium for the Smeg name and Victoria aesthetics compared with no-frills alternatives.
If you’re upgrading a kitchen and want an elegant black gas hob that feels solid, offers excellent flame control and matches other Smeg Victoria appliances, this model is easy to recommend. If budget is tight or you’d prefer the latest digital features, it’s worth comparing more feature-rich or lower-cost rivals first.