The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob with four burners, including a powerful wok burner, finished in a traditional-looking black enamel. It aims to combine Smeg’s retro aesthetic with the practicality busy home cooks need day to day.
This is very much a mid–to–upper mid-range hob rather than a budget buy, reflecting Smeg’s premium positioning in the market. You’re paying for design as well as solid build quality, with cast iron pan supports and Italian manufacture.
Owners clearly rate it highly: it carries an impressive 4.8 out of 5 from user reviews, suggesting that, for most households, it performs exactly as you’d hope from a stylish but straightforward gas hob.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for anyone fitting out a stylish, medium-sized kitchen who wants classic looks rather than ultra-modern glass or stainless steel. If you’re updating a traditional or country-style space, the black enamel finish and Victoria design language will feel right at home.
With four burners and three different burner sizes, it suits typical households who cook most days, from quick pastas to Sunday roasts. The inclusion of an ultra-rapid wok burner makes it particularly good for those who stir-fry, sear steaks or regularly need high heat in a larger pan.
This is not the cheapest 60cm gas hob you can buy, so it’s better suited to buyers with a mid-range to premium budget rather than someone after the lowest possible price. In return, you get cast iron pan supports, automatic ignition and safety features that give it a more upmarket feel.
If you’re a first-time buyer wanting something easy and intuitive, the front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition keep things simple. If you’re a more confident cook, the sturdy supports and powerful burner range will let you push your recipes without feeling held back.
The four-burner layout with three different burner sizes offers flexible cooking, from gentle simmering to fast boiling. The dedicated wok (ultra-rapid) burner delivers quick, intense heat that’s perfect for stir-fries and big pans, making it a genuine step up from more basic four-burner hobs.
Cast iron pan supports are a clear strength here. They’re sturdier and more hard-wearing than cheaper enamelled wire designs, so pans feel stable and the hob looks and feels more premium.
Everyday usability is strong too. Front-mounted rotary dials are easy to see and reach, and automatic ignition means you simply turn and go – no fiddling with separate igniters or matches.
Safety has been well considered, with flame failure devices and automatic safety shut off. If a flame is accidentally blown out, the gas supply is cut, which is reassuring in a family kitchen. Add in the positive owner feedback and the Italian build, and this looks like a well-resolved, reliable bit of kit.
There’s no integrated timer or control panel lock, so if you like to set precise cooking times on the hob itself or want extra protection from little hands, you may find the feature set a bit basic.
The enamel surface, while attractive and traditional, can be a little more prone to showing marks than some modern glass or stainless alternatives and may need a bit more care when cleaning to keep it looking its best.
At this price point some rivals offer extra touches such as more burners, specialist simmer zones or digital displays. Here you’re paying partly for design and build quality rather than a long list of advanced features.
Finally, the hob requires installation by both an electrician (for the ignition) and a Gas Safe engineer, and the gas hose is not included, so that’s an extra detail and cost to factor in.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is the sort of hob you quickly stop thinking about – in a good way. The automatic ignition lights the burners promptly with a simple twist of the front dials, and because the controls sit along the front edge, you don’t need to reach over hot pans to adjust the heat.
The 60cm width and four-burner layout give enough room for the typical mix of pans: a large pot at the back, frying pan or wok at the front, and a couple of smaller pans alongside. The cast iron supports create a continuous, level surface, so sliding pans from one burner to another feels stable and controlled.
Cleaning is straightforward but slightly old-school. The enamel surface can be wiped down with a soft cloth and suitable cleaner once cool, and the pan supports lift off for a deeper clean. It may not have the effortless wipe-ability of some flat glass hobs, but, treated with care, it should keep its good looks.
The built-in flame failure safety and automatic shut-off work in the background, so you don’t notice them in use, but they add peace of mind, especially in busy households where distractions are common.
In performance terms, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH covers the essentials very well. The burner power ranges from 1.05 kW up to a punchy 3.3 kW, giving you a good spread from gentle simmering to rapid boiling. The ultra-rapid burner in particular is excellent for high-heat cooking, whether that’s stir-frying, browning meat or quickly bringing large pots to the boil.
The hob offers three different burner sizes across the four zones, so you can match the flame more closely to your pans. This helps avoid wasteful heat spilling up the sides of smaller pots, and makes it easier to hold a true low simmer on sauces or melted chocolate.
Construction-wise, the enamel surface paired with cast iron supports brings the familiar feel of a traditional gas hob but with a more premium, solid finish than entry-level models. Being part of Smeg’s Victoria range, it also coordinates nicely with matching ovens or cookers if you’re creating a cohesive look in the kitchen.
Feature-wise it’s deliberately simple. You get automatic ignition, front rotary controls, flame failure devices and automatic safety shut-off, LPG compatibility and a supplied conversion kit if you run bottled gas. There are no timers, digital displays or smart functions, but many buyers will appreciate the straightforward, mechanical nature and fewer things to go wrong.
Installation needs a 3-amp electrical connection for the ignition and a Gas Safe engineer for the gas supply. Once fitted correctly, it should be a dependable, no-nonsense hob that does its job without drama.
With a price of £399, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits in the mid-to-premium bracket for a 60cm four-burner gas hob. You can certainly find cheaper options if you just want basic functionality, but they often lack the sturdy build, powerful wok burner and design-led styling found here.
What you’re really paying for is the combination of Smeg’s retro aesthetic, Italian manufacture, cast iron supports and solid safety spec. If those elements matter to you, that premium is easier to justify than if you simply need the lowest-cost way to boil a pan of pasta.
The strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from multiple reviews supports the idea that most buyers feel they’ve had fair value from their purchase. Considering the two-year manufacturer warranty and LPG conversion kit included, the package stacks up well for style-conscious homes looking for reliable gas performance.
If your budget is tight and you don’t care about brand or looks, there are more economical hobs around. But if you want something that feels substantial and looks the part in a coordinated Smeg or traditional kitchen, the price-to-quality balance is compelling.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed 60cm gas hob that blends classic styling with reliable day-to-day performance. Its four-burner layout, strong wok burner and cast iron pan supports make it a practical choice for households that cook regularly and appreciate a more traditional aesthetic.
It doesn’t chase advanced features – there’s no timer, lock or digital wizardry – but it does the basics very well, backed up by thoughtful safety features and a reassuringly solid feel. For many buyers, that simplicity will be a key part of its appeal.
If you’re working with a strict budget or want the latest in smart controls and touch panels, you may be better off elsewhere. But if you value design, build quality and dependable gas power over bells and whistles, this Smeg hob is an excellent fit and should slot neatly into a stylish family kitchen.
