The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob in a sleek black finish, aimed at cooks who like the responsiveness of gas but want something smarter than the usual stainless steel square. With four burners, solid cast iron pan supports and a powerful wok burner, it’s designed for everyday family cooking with a touch of traditional charm.
Smeg sits firmly at the premium end of the market, and this model follows that pattern: it’s not the cheapest 60cm hob, but it focuses on build quality and design rather than gimmicks. An automatic ignition system, flame failure safety and LPG conversion kit all come as standard.
Owner feedback is very strong, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from multiple reviews, suggesting that buyers are generally delighted with how it looks and performs once fitted.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for homeowners who want a dependable, good-looking gas hob to complement a traditional or shaker-style kitchen. The black enamel surface and chunky cast iron pan supports look particularly at home alongside range-style cookers and classic cabinetry.
With four burners and three different burner sizes, it suits small to medium households who cook most days, from quick midweek pasta to weekend roasts and stir-fries. The inclusion of an ultra-rapid wok burner makes it especially appealing if you enjoy Asian-style cooking or often need intense heat for searing and boiling.
Given the brand and feature set, this is best viewed as a mid-to-premium option rather than a budget choice. It’s a sensible upgrade if you’re replacing an older basic hob during a kitchen refresh and want something more robust and stylish without stepping up to a full range cooker.
It’s also a good fit for those who value straightforward controls and reliability over fancy touch panels or smart features. If you prefer intuitive rotary dials and simple operation, this hob plays to those strengths.
The standout feature here is the ultra-rapid wok burner, delivering up to 3.3kW of power. That gives you strong, focused heat for fast stir-fries, quick boiling and efficient searing – something many basic 60cm hobs simply can’t match.
The cast iron pan supports are another highlight. They’re sturdy, heavy and span the hob, giving pans a stable base and a more premium feel than lightweight enamelled grates. They also make it easier to slide pans across the hob without lifting.
Everyday usability is helped by automatic ignition and simple front-mounted rotary dials. You turn the control and the burner lights, with no need for separate ignition buttons or matches. It’s fuss-free, even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy.
Safety is well covered, with flame failure devices on the burners and automatic safety shut-off. If a flame goes out unexpectedly, the gas supply is cut – reassuring in busy family kitchens.
Finally, LPG compatibility with a conversion kit included means it’s a flexible choice for homes without mains gas, such as rural properties or holiday homes.
At this price point, the feature set is deliberately simple, which won’t suit everyone. There’s no timer or control panel lock, and no clever extras like automatic simmer settings or digital displays that some competitors now offer.
The black enamel surface looks smart when clean but will show spills, greasy fingerprints and scratches more readily than stainless steel or glass. You’ll need to keep on top of wiping it down and occasionally lifting off the cast iron supports, which are weighty.
There’s also a relatively standard 2-year warranty. It’s respectable, but given the premium branding, a longer guarantee would have added extra peace of mind.
Finally, because it’s a gas hob, it must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the gas hose is not included. Factor that into your overall budget if you’re upgrading from electric.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is all about familiar, predictable gas cooking. The four burners are well spaced across the 59.5cm width, giving enough room for a couple of large pans and smaller saucepans without everything feeling cramped.
Front-mounted rotary dials are easy to see and reach, so you’re not stretching over hot pans to adjust the flame. The automatic ignition makes starting each burner quick and reliable – a single twist is usually all it takes.
The low 3cm profile helps it sit flush with your worktop for a neat, integrated look. Cast iron supports give a sense of solidity when you move heavy casseroles or full pots across the hob, and they help keep pans steady, which is especially useful when simmering.
Cleaning is straightforward but not entirely effortless. The enamel surface can be wiped down with a soft cloth once cool, but the dark finish will reveal dried-on splashes if you leave them too long. The heavy pan supports need to be lifted off for a proper clean, but being solid and simple in design, they’re easy enough to wipe over in the sink.
Because there are no electronic touch panels or complex settings, there’s very little to learn or accidentally change. Once installed, it quickly becomes a simple, reliable workhorse in the kitchen.
Performance-wise, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is well set up for most home cooking. The burner power ranges from 1.05kW up to 3.3kW, giving you fine control from gentle simmering through to high-heat boiling and stir-frying. Having three different burner sizes means you can match the flame to the pan, improving efficiency and reducing the chance of scorching.
The ultra-rapid wok burner is the main performance upgrade over entry-level hobs. Mounted within easy reach, it gives you a wide, strong flame pattern ideal for woks, large frying pans and big pots of water. If you regularly cook for a family or like to entertain, this extra punch makes a noticeable difference.
Construction is reassuringly solid. The enamel surface is durable and heat resistant, while the cast iron pan supports are designed for long-term use. The hob is also integrated by design, so it sits seamlessly into a 60cm-wide cut-out, a very common size for British kitchens.
On the safety side, the hob includes automatic safety shut-off and flame failure devices, cutting the gas supply if the flame goes out. Automatic ignition is built in, so you don’t need separate lighters or igniters that can fail over time.
What you don’t get are advanced electronics – there’s no built-in timer, no child lock and no digital readouts. For many buyers, that simplicity is a benefit: fewer things to go wrong, and straightforward operation for every member of the household.
With a price tag of around £399, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits in the mid-to-upper range for standard 60cm gas hobs. You can certainly find cheaper options that will boil a pan of water, but they typically lack the same level of build quality, the powerful wok burner and the classic styling that defines the Victoria line.
Where this hob justifies its cost is in its combination of premium materials, strong performance and reassuring safety features. The cast iron supports and Italian build give it a more substantial feel than many budget rivals, and the inclusion of an LPG conversion kit adds flexibility without extra spend.
The high user rating of 4.8 out of 5 backs up the idea that most owners feel they’ve had good value from their purchase. If you’re counting every pound, a simpler, cheaper hob might make more sense. But if you’re renovating a kitchen and want a reliable, attractive gas hob that should last, the pricing feels fair for what you get.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed 60cm gas hob that focuses on the fundamentals: consistent heat, sturdy construction and timeless styling. The powerful wok burner and robust cast iron supports lift it above entry-level models, making everyday cooking easier and more enjoyable.
It’s not the choice for feature hunters who want touch controls, built-in timers and a host of smart functions. Nor is it the cheapest way to add gas cooking to your kitchen. But if you prefer simple rotary controls, classic looks and the reassurance of strong safety features, it hits a very appealing sweet spot.
For households that cook regularly and want a reliable, good-looking hob to complement a mid-to-premium kitchen, this Smeg is an excellent option. Those on tighter budgets, or who rarely cook, may be better served by a more basic model – but most keen home cooks will find plenty to like here.
