Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that blends traditional styling with modern safety and convenience. Finished in black enamel with chunky cast iron pan supports, it’s designed to be a focal point in a more classic or shaker-style kitchen.
With four burners including a high-output wok zone, automatic ignition and flame failure safety on the gas supply, it offers a solid, no-nonsense cooking platform rather than flashy extras. The asking price puts it in the premium bracket for a standard 60cm gas hob, but it’s backed up by Smeg’s reputation for build quality and design.
Owners clearly rate it highly: an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from multiple reviews suggests that, in real kitchens, it feels well made, easy to live with and capable of handling everyday family cooking.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal if you want a traditional-looking gas hob that still feels robust and up to date. Its 60cm width makes it a natural fit for most standard UK kitchens, whether you’re refreshing an existing space or planning a full refit.
It suits home cooks who like to mix everyday meals with the odd stir-fry or one-pan showpiece. The dedicated wok burner delivers quick, intense heat, so you can sear, flash-fry and boil large pans without waiting around.
Budget-wise, this is a premium choice rather than an entry-level buy. You’re paying for the Smeg name, the Victoria retro styling and the sturdier cast iron supports, not extra tech. That makes it a good match for style-conscious buyers who cook regularly and want something that feels substantial under heavy pans.
If you’re kitting out a rental flat on a tight budget or want lots of digital features, timers and touch controls, this probably isn’t the best fit. But if you value tactile knobs, classic looks and solid performance, it hits a sweet spot.
The four-burner layout is straightforward and versatile, giving plenty of space for a couple of large pans plus sides. Three different burner sizes and a power range from 1.05 to 3.3 kW mean you can simmer sauces gently or blast heat for fast boiling.
The ultra-rapid wok burner is a real highlight. It’s perfect for stir-fries, big pots of pasta or anything that benefits from strong, even heat, and it helps this hob feel more capable than many basic four-burner models.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the hob a substantial, professional feel. They hold pans securely, cope well with heavier cookware and stand up to daily use better than lighter enamelled grates.
Everyday usability is strong: automatic ignition built into the rotary dials makes lighting the burners quick and intuitive, while the front-mounted controls are easy to reach without leaning over hot pans. Built-in flame failure safety valves automatically cut the gas if the flame goes out, adding an important layer of protection.
The low 3cm profile and 60cm width help it sit neatly on most standard worktops, and a two-year manufacturer’s warranty for domestic use provides decent peace of mind.
For a 60cm hob with four burners, the price is on the higher side, driven largely by the Smeg branding and Victoria styling rather than a long list of advanced features.
There’s no integrated timer or control panel lock, so if you’re used to more modern, feature-packed hobs you may miss those extras. Families with curious young children might prefer a model with a dedicated child lock on the controls.
The enamel surface, while in keeping with the classic look, can show marks and needs a bit more care than some modern glass or stainless finishes to keep it looking pristine.
Finally, installation isn’t plug-and-play. You’ll need a Gas Safe engineer for the gas connection and an electrician to attach the plug or cable, which adds to the overall cost if you’re not already renovating.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is all about simple, reliable cooking. The four-burner layout is familiar and easy to navigate, with clearly spaced zones that let you juggle multiple pans without feeling cramped on a standard 60cm worktop.
The rotary dials are front-mounted, so you don’t have to reach over steaming pots to adjust the flame. Automatic ignition means you just twist and press to light each burner – no separate ignition button and no messing about with matches.
Those cast iron pan supports do add a bit of weight, but they make pots feel secure and stable, even when you’re moving heavy casseroles or large woks around. They also bridge the space between burners, so you can shuffle pans smoothly rather than lifting them.
Cleaning is straightforward rather than effortless. The enamel surface wipes down easily with a soft cloth and suitable cleaner, but as with most enamel hobs you’ll want to stay on top of spills to avoid burnt-on marks. The removable pan supports can be lifted off for a deeper clean.
In everyday cooking, the burner range from 1.05 to 3.3 kW gives you good control from a gentle simmer up to a vigorous boil, and the flame failure device quietly adds reassurance in the background without changing how you use the hob.
Performance is strong for a four-burner gas hob. With a burner power range between 1.05 and 3.3 kW, it covers most everyday tasks comfortably. The smaller burners are suited to simmering rice, custards or sauces without scorching, while the more powerful zones get big pans of water up to temperature quickly.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner. It delivers concentrated, intense heat that spreads well across the base of a wok or large frying pan. That’s exactly what you want for quick, high-heat cooking and for searing meat or vegetables without them stewing.
The hob surface is finished in black enamel, which ties in neatly with the Victoria range’s retro styling and gives a softer, more traditional look than glass or stainless steel. Underneath your pans, the heavy cast iron supports create a level, continuous surface that feels reassuringly solid and helps distribute weight evenly.
Safety is well covered. Automatic ignition makes lighting each burner quick and reduces the chance of gas escaping before it’s lit. The flame failure safety device monitors each burner and cuts the gas supply if the flame is accidentally extinguished – a valuable safeguard, especially in busy family kitchens.
While it doesn’t offer digital timers, touch controls or smart connectivity, it does include LPG compatibility and a conversion kit in the box. That makes it a flexible option if your home uses bottled gas or you’re planning an installation in a location without mains supply, such as a countryside property or annex.
Viewed purely on spec, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a fairly simple four-burner gas hob at a premium price. You’re not getting advanced electronics, flexible cooking zones or integrated timers that some similarly priced models offer.
However, you are paying for a combination of brand, design and build quality. The substantial cast iron supports, solid-feeling controls, included LPG conversion kit and Italian manufacture all contribute to a more upmarket feel than budget alternatives.
The very strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 suggests that owners generally feel they’ve had good value, particularly if they chose it to match other Victoria appliances or to complete a more traditional kitchen look.
If you simply need the cheapest way to boil pasta, there are more affordable options. If you want a well-made, classically styled hob that feels robust and looks the part on show in your kitchen, the price is easier to justify.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a stylish, well-built 60cm gas hob that does the basics very well. It combines classic looks with a practical burner layout, a powerful wok zone and solid cast iron supports, making it a dependable choice for everyday cooking and the odd more ambitious meal.
It isn’t packed with modern extras, and the price reflects the Smeg badge and design as much as the feature list. If you’re after touch controls, timers or lots of automation, a more contemporary hob will suit you better.
But if you value tactile knobs, traditional styling and a robust, reassuring feel under your cookware, this hob delivers. For households that cook regularly and want a premium, heritage look without sacrificing performance, it’s an excellent fit.