Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob with four burners, dressed in a traditional black enamel finish that fits neatly into both modern and period-style kitchens. Smeg positions the Victoria range towards the premium end of the market, with a focus on solid build and timeless looks rather than flashy extras.
At this price, it sits in the mid-to-upper bracket for standard 60cm gas hobs, but you are paying for brand, design and sturdy cast iron supports. A dedicated wok burner and automatic ignition make it feel more upmarket than basic entry-level models.
With a 4.8 out of 5 rating from 16 owners, it’s clearly well regarded in real kitchens, suggesting strong reliability and a layout that works well for everyday cooking.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for households that cook regularly but don’t need the sprawl of a larger 75cm or 90cm hob. With four burners and a compact 60cm width, it’s a good fit for typical UK kitchens, flats and family homes where worktop space is at a premium.
It suits buyers with a mid-range to premium budget who value design as much as function. If you like the idea of a traditional-looking hob with modern safety features and robust supports, this model hits a sweet spot.
Keen home cooks will appreciate the ultra-rapid wok burner, which makes quick work of stir-fries, searing and boiling big pots. At the same time, the simple rotary dials and automatic ignition make it very accessible for less experienced cooks or those upgrading from an older basic hob.
If you want smart connectivity, touch controls or a built-in timer, this isn’t the right choice. But if your priorities are reliability, classic styling and straightforward control, it will feel very well matched.
The standout feature here is the dedicated wok burner, delivering quick, intense heat up to 3.3 kW. That gives you the power you need for proper stir-frying, rapid boiling and searing, something many basic 60cm hobs struggle with.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the hob a solid, professional feel. They hold pans firmly in place, span the whole surface and cope well with heavy cookware, so you can move pots around without wobble.
Everyday operation is refreshingly simple. Front-mounted rotary dials are easy to see and reach, and automatic ignition means you just twist and go – no fiddling with matches or separate ignition buttons.
Safety is well covered too, thanks to automatic safety shut off and a flame failure device. If the flame goes out, the gas supply is cut, which is reassuring in a busy family kitchen.
Finally, at just 3 cm high and with a 60 cm width, it’s a neat, integrated solution that will slot into standard cut-outs and keep the worktop looking clean and uncluttered.
For the price, the feature set is quite traditional. There’s no timer, no control panel lock and no digital display, which some rivals now include even at similar or lower price points.
The enamel surface looks smart, but it’s not as resistant to scratching and staining as high-end stainless steel or glass. You’ll need to be a bit careful with heavy pans and abrasive cleaners to keep it looking its best.
There’s also no included gas hose and installation requires both a Gas Safe engineer and an electrician to attach the plug or cable. That’s standard for many built-in gas hobs, but it does add to the overall cost.
Lastly, the manufacturer warranty is a fairly standard 2 years. It’s decent, but some brands in this price bracket offer longer cover, which would add extra peace of mind.
Living with the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is all about straightforward, familiar gas cooking. The four burners are laid out to make it easy to juggle multiple pans, with the more powerful ultra-rapid burner reserved for your largest pots and woks.
Automatic ignition means lighting the hob is quick and reliable – a firm twist of the dial is usually all that’s needed. The front control position is convenient, especially if you’re shorter or don’t want to lean over hot pans, though it does mean spills can reach the knobs more easily, so an occasional wipe-down is important.
The continuous cast iron supports make it simple to slide pans from one burner to another without lifting, which is handy when you’re reducing sauces or keeping sides warm. They feel weighty enough to stay put when you’re stirring vigorously.
Cleaning is relatively straightforward for an enamel hob. The flat surface and removable pan supports let you get underneath any splashes, but enamel does ask for a non-abrasive cloth and a bit of care. There’s no self-cleaning feature, yet for a 60cm hob, day-to-day upkeep is manageable.
Overall, it feels reassuringly solid and predictable in use, ideal if you prefer intuitive manual control over complex programmes.
Performance-wise, the Victoria SR964NGH focuses on strong, controllable heat across its four burners. With a power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW, it covers everything from gentle simmering to rapid boiling. The ultra-rapid wok burner stands out in particular, providing a concentrated flame that gets pans up to temperature quickly.
Gas response is instant, and the rotary dials allow fine adjustment, so it’s easy to go from a rolling boil to a low simmer without losing control. This is especially useful for sauces and delicate dishes where precise heat makes the difference between perfect and overdone.
The enamel surface and cast iron pan supports give the hob a traditional, almost range-cooker look, which many buyers will find appealing. Despite the classic styling, safety is up to date: a flame failure device and automatic safety shut off help reduce the risk of gas leaks if a burner goes out unexpectedly.
From a features standpoint, it’s deliberately simple. There’s automatic ignition, LPG compatibility with a conversion kit included, and integration is straightforward for standard 60cm installations. You don’t get advanced extras such as timers, touch sliders or smart connectivity, but for many cooks, that’s a positive – less to go wrong and a more tactile, analogue feel.
As part of Smeg’s broader hob line-up, this model sits as a dependable, stylish all-rounder rather than a tech-packed flagship. It delivers the essentials very well, with the wok burner and robust supports giving it a performance edge over bare-bones budget hobs.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is not the cheapest 60cm gas hob on the market, but it offers a compelling blend of build quality, design and day-to-day performance. You’re paying partly for the Smeg name and the classic Victoria styling, which will appeal if you’re coordinating with other Smeg appliances or creating a more traditional look.
Feature-wise, it justifies its mid-to-upper price by including a powerful wok burner, heavy cast iron supports and solid safety provisions. However, it lacks some of the modern extras that similarly priced rivals sometimes include, such as timers or child locks, so the value proposition is strongest if you prefer simplicity over tech.
The strong 4.8/5 owner rating adds weight to its value for money: real users are clearly happy with how it performs and holds up in everyday use. If design, sturdy construction and cooking performance matter more to you than having lots of digital features, it represents good value within the premium-leaning bracket.
If you’re on a tight budget or want as many features as possible for the lowest outlay, you can find cheaper, more feature-heavy alternatives. But for a stylish, well-made gas hob that should last, the price feels reasonable.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-built, attractive 60cm gas hob that delivers exactly what most home cooks need: reliable heat, a powerful wok burner and sturdy supports, all wrapped in a classic black finish. It slots neatly into standard kitchen layouts and brings a premium feel without being overly fussy.
Its main strengths are the ultra-rapid burner, quality cast iron supports and straightforward rotary controls, backed up by proper safety features. The high user rating suggests it’s a trustworthy choice for families and keen cooks alike.
The trade-offs are a relatively simple feature set and a price that reflects the Smeg badge and styling as much as on-paper specs. If you’re after timers, touch controls or lots of automation, it may feel basic for the money. But if you value timeless design, solid engineering and confident gas performance over gadgets, this hob is an excellent option.