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 front-mounted rotary controls, finished in a smart black enamel. It blends Smeg’s retro-inspired styling with a practical layout that will suit most standard UK kitchens.
With sturdy cast iron pan supports, automatic ignition and a dedicated wok burner, this hob focuses on dependable gas cooking rather than flashy extras. It’s positioned as a mid-to-premium option rather than a budget buy, leaning on Smeg’s reputation for design and build quality.
Owners rate it very highly, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from a solid number of reviews, suggesting that in real kitchens it delivers on both looks and day-to-day performance.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for households that cook regularly and want a reliable, stylish 60cm hob rather than the cheapest option on the market. If you’re upgrading a tired built-in hob in a typical UK kitchen, it will slot neatly into the space while lifting the overall look.
It suits keen home cooks who value responsive gas heat and often juggle multiple pans. The four-burner layout with three burner sizes and an ultra-rapid wok burner makes it easy to simmer, fry and boil at the same time without feeling cramped.
If you like the idea of a classic, knob-controlled gas hob rather than touch controls or smart features, this model will appeal. The front-mounted rotary dials are straightforward for all experience levels, from confident cooks to those who just want something intuitive.
Budget-conscious buyers looking for the lowest possible price might find this a stretch, but if you’re happy to pay a bit more for better materials, Italian build and that Smeg design, it’s a strong fit.
The standout feature is the powerful wok burner, delivering quick, intense heat that’s ideal for stir-fries, searing and bringing large pots to the boil faster than a standard burner.
Cast iron pan supports give the hob a sturdy, premium feel. They hold pans securely, cope well with heavy cookware and add to the overall aesthetic, while being durable enough for years of use.
Automatic ignition on the rotary dials makes getting started effortless – you simply turn the knob and the flame lights, with no need for separate lighters or matches.
Safety is well covered with a flame failure device and automatic safety shut off, cutting the gas if the flame goes out. That’s reassuring in busy family kitchens.
The 60cm width, shallow 3cm profile and integrated design make it an easy replacement for most standard hobs, without demanding extra worktop space.
There’s no timer or control panel lock, so if you’re used to more feature-rich hobs with built-in timing functions or extra child safety options, this feels fairly traditional.
The enamel surface, while attractive, may show marks and spills more readily than some modern glass or stainless finishes and can need a bit more care to keep looking pristine.
A two-year warranty is decent but not outstanding at this price point; some rivals now offer longer cover, which may matter if you see this as a long-term investment.
Front-mounted rotary controls are easy to reach, but they are also more exposed to splashes and knocks than side-mounted or recessed controls, so they’ll need regular wiping down.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is straightforward to live with. Automatic ignition means you just push and turn the dial and the burner lights, so getting dinner underway is almost instant. The clearly spaced front controls make it easy to see which knob corresponds to which burner.
The four burners with three different sizes give a sensible spread of options. You can keep a sauce ticking over on a smaller burner while using the ultra-rapid zone for frying or boiling. The cast iron pan supports create a stable cooking surface, which is especially noticeable with larger pans and woks.
Cleaning is relatively simple: the pan supports lift off so you can wipe down the enamel surface beneath. However, as with any enamelled hob, it pays to clean up spills promptly to avoid staining or baked-on residue. The simple layout, without fiddly recesses or touch panels, does make it easier to keep on top of everyday mess.
Installation-wise, it’s designed as an integrated appliance and will need both a Gas Safe engineer and an electrician to connect it safely. Once fitted, it’s the sort of hob that quickly fades into the background – in a good way – simply doing its job without fuss.
Performance is very much focused on dependable gas power. With a burner range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW, you get the flexibility to handle both delicate simmering and hard, fast cooking. The ultra-rapid burner is the star, bringing water to the boil quickly and providing the fierce heat you need for proper wok cooking.
The four-burner layout with three different burner sizes means you can match pan size to flame size, improving efficiency and helping avoid hot spots or wasted heat creeping up the sides of smaller pans. For a 60cm hob this layout is well balanced and should suit most households.
Cast iron pan supports are a clear step up from lighter alternatives, adding weight and stability. They interlock to create a continuous cooking surface, which makes shifting pans between burners smoother. They also complement the black enamel surface, giving the hob a classic, slightly retro look in keeping with the Victoria range.
On the safety front, the flame failure device and automatic safety shut off provide good peace of mind. If a pan boils over or a draught snuffs out the flame, the gas supply is cut automatically. Automatic ignition integrated into the controls keeps operation simple – no separate buttons or piezo igniters to worry about.
While there are no smart functions, touch sliders or timers, that simplicity is part of the appeal. For many cooks, especially those who prefer analogue-style control, the straightforward rotary dials offer precise, instant adjustment of the flame without complicated menus or displays.
This Smeg hob sits towards the premium end of the 60cm gas hob market, helped by its brand, styling and materials. You are paying more than you would for an entry-level model, but in return you get cast iron supports, a powerful wok burner, Italian manufacture and a cohesive design that matches other Smeg Victoria appliances.
The feature set itself is focused rather than flashy – there’s no timer, lock or smart connectivity – so the value case rests largely on build quality, safety features and the cooking performance of the burners. For households that cook most days and want something that feels solid and looks smart, that can be a worthwhile trade-off.
The high user rating of 4.8 out of 5, backed by a fair number of reviews, suggests that owners generally feel they’ve had their money’s worth. If you only cook occasionally or are renovating on a tight budget, a cheaper basic hob will do the job. But if you appreciate better materials and design and plan to keep it for years, the price is justifiable.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-made, attractive 60cm gas hob that focuses on the fundamentals: strong, responsive burners, a proper wok zone, sturdy cast iron supports and straightforward controls. It’s a great match for anyone who enjoys traditional gas cooking and wants a hob that looks the part in a more classic or retro-style kitchen.
It’s not the most feature-packed option at this price, lacking extras like a timer or control lock, and the enamel surface will reward a bit of regular care. The warranty could also be longer for a premium-branded appliance.
Overall, though, its blend of performance, safety features and solid user feedback makes it an easy hob to recommend for busy households that cook often and want a reliable, stylish workhorse rather than cutting-edge tech.