Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob with four burners, finished in glossy black enamel and topped with chunky cast iron pan supports. It’s part of Smeg’s retro-inspired Victoria range, so it’s aimed at buyers who want traditional looks without sacrificing modern safety and convenience.
With automatic ignition, a powerful wok burner and flame failure safety fitted as standard, it’s more than just a pretty face. Priced in the premium bracket for a standard 60cm gas hob, it’s clearly targeting design-conscious households rather than the bargain end of the market.
Owners rate it very highly, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from a solid number of reviews, which suggests it performs well in everyday use and feels worth the investment for most buyers.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for style-focused cooks who want a traditional-looking hob that still feels solid and up to date. If you’re pairing it with a Smeg Victoria oven or building a classic or country-style kitchen, the design will fit in beautifully.
With four burners, including an ultra-rapid wok burner, it suits small to medium households that cook most days of the week. There’s enough flexibility for family meals, batch cooking or entertaining occasionally, but it’s still a standard 60cm footprint, so it will drop into most existing cut-outs without drama.
This model is best described as a mid-to-premium option. You’re paying more than you would for a basic stainless-steel hob, but you’re getting robust cast iron supports, Italian build quality and a more distinctive look in return. It’s a good match for confident home cooks who value feel and control over extra gimmicks.
If you want lots of zones, touch controls or integrated timers, this won’t be the right choice. But if you prefer simple rotary dials, the instant response of gas and a standout appearance, it fits the bill very well.
The standout feature here is the ultra-rapid wok burner, rated up to 3.3 kW. It delivers strong, focused heat that’s perfect for stir-fries, searing steaks or quickly boiling a large pan of water, giving you serious cooking power on a compact hob.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the surface a premium, professional feel. They provide a stable platform for heavy pans and are more durable than lightweight enamelled steel grates often found on cheaper models.
Everyday operation is straightforward thanks to the front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition. A quick twist is all it takes to light each burner, and having the controls at the front keeps you from reaching over hot pans.
Safety is well covered. A flame failure device automatically cuts off the gas if a flame goes out, while automatic safety shut-off provides an extra layer of reassurance – particularly important in busy family kitchens. The inclusion of an LPG conversion kit also adds flexibility if your home runs on bottled gas.
For a 60cm hob at this price, the feature set is quite traditional. There’s no built-in timer, no control panel lock and no extra convenience features such as automatic simmer settings or digital displays, which some similarly priced rivals now offer.
The enamel surface looks smart in black, but it can show smears, spills and scratches more readily than some brushed metal or glass alternatives, so you may need to be a bit more careful with cleaning to keep it looking its best.
Front-mounted controls are easy to reach but can be more exposed to splashes from large front pans. There’s also only a standard two-year manufacturer warranty, which is fine but not outstanding at this price point.
Finally, while four burners will be ample for most people, keen entertainers or very large households might miss the extra space and flexibility offered by wider 75cm or 90cm hobs.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH aims to be as simple as possible to live with. Automatic ignition means you don’t need separate lighters or matches – you just press and turn the dial and the burner springs into life. The front control layout makes it easy to adjust the flame without leaning across steam or spitting pans.
The three different burner sizes give you sensible flexibility: smaller burners for gentle simmering or small pans, standard burners for everyday cooking, and the ultra-rapid zone when you need intense heat. The cast iron supports spread across the surface allow you to slide pans between burners without lifting, which is handy when juggling multiple dishes.
At just 3 cm high, the hob sits fairly low on the worktop for a neat, integrated look. Cleaning requires a bit of routine effort – you’ll need to lift off the heavy-duty supports and wipe the enamel surface – but the smooth top helps prevent food collecting in awkward recesses.
Installation does need a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the electrical connection requires a plug or cable to be attached by an electrician. Once fitted, though, everyday interaction is refreshingly straightforward, with no menus or touchscreens to learn.
Performance-wise, the SR964NGH is built around four gas burners with a power range from 1.05 to 3.3 kW. That span covers everything from delicate sauces and slow simmering to aggressive, fast boiling and wok cooking, giving you a good spread of control without overcomplicating things.
The ultra-rapid burner is the star of the show. Positioned for easy access, it’s tailored to wok cooking but just as useful for large stockpots and big frying pans. Being able to move from a high rolling boil down to a controlled simmer via the rotary dials makes it easy to fine-tune your heat.
Cast iron pan supports provide a solid, even platform for pans. They’re more substantial than basic wire or thin enamel supports, helping with stability and heat distribution under cookware. Combined with the enamel surface, the hob feels weighty and well built, in keeping with Smeg’s premium image.
On the safety side, the flame failure device and automatic safety shut-off significantly reduce the risk associated with gas, especially if a pan boils over or a draught blows out a burner. Automatic ignition and clearly labelled front controls enhance usability, even for less experienced cooks.
While there are no smart features or electronic timers, the essentials are covered well. For many gas hob buyers, tactile control, reliable ignition and solid construction matter more than added electronics, and in that respect this model delivers strongly.
At around £399, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits in the upper part of the price range for standard 60cm gas hobs. You’re not paying for cutting-edge technology here; instead, the value comes from design, build quality and a focused set of core features.
The robust cast iron supports, powerful wok burner, Italian manufacture and integrated safety systems justify a good chunk of the premium over entry-level models. If you care about how your hob looks and feels as part of a coordinated Smeg kitchen, the extra spend will make sense.
The strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5, backed by a decent number of reviews, suggests that most owners feel they’ve had their money’s worth, particularly in terms of reliability and day-to-day performance. However, if your priority is simply the lowest price for a basic four-burner hob, there are cheaper options that will still do the job.
Overall, it offers solid value for design-conscious buyers who want a classic look and dependable performance, but feature hunters or strict budget shoppers may find better financial sense elsewhere.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-made, stylish 60cm gas hob that combines classic looks with reliable performance. Its powerful wok burner, sturdy cast iron supports and straightforward rotary controls make it a pleasure to cook on, while modern safety features provide welcome peace of mind.
It’s not packed with advanced extras, and the price reflects its premium branding and design rather than a long list of smart functions. If you want timers, touch controls or an extended warranty as standard, there are rivals worth considering.
For anyone building a traditional or retro-style kitchen, or simply wanting a handsome, dependable gas hob that feels better put together than budget alternatives, the SR964NGH is an excellent choice. If you’re less concerned about aesthetics and more focused on getting the lowest possible price, you may be happier with a more basic model.