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 a traditional enamel finish in black. It’s part of Smeg’s retro-inspired Victoria range, so it’s aimed at anyone who wants period styling without giving up modern safety and convenience.
At this price it sits toward the premium end of standard 60cm gas hobs, but you’re paying for brand appeal, design and build quality as much as the basic spec. User feedback is very strong, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from owners, suggesting it’s living up to expectations in real kitchens.
With automatic ignition, a powerful wok burner and cast iron pan supports, it’s clearly designed for people who do a fair bit of cooking and care how their hob looks as well as how it performs.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for style-conscious households that want a traditional-looking gas hob to complement a classic or shaker-style kitchen. If you already have, or are planning, other Smeg Victoria appliances, this hob will slot in seamlessly from a design point of view.
With four burners, including an ultra-rapid wok burner, it suits small to medium households who cook most days. There’s enough space to handle the family dinner, but the 60cm width means it will still fit standard cut-outs and compact kitchens.
This model is best viewed as a mid-to-premium choice rather than an entry-level buy. If you’re upgrading from a very basic hob and want something more solid with better pan supports and safety features, it’s a strong contender. Enthusiastic home cooks who enjoy stir-fries, searing meat or reducing sauces will particularly appreciate the more powerful burner.
Because the controls are simple rotary dials and there’s no timer or touch controls to get used to, it’s also a good option for those who prefer straightforward, familiar operation over lots of extra tech.
The standout feature here is the ultra-rapid wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat for stir-fries, big pans of pasta or fast boiling. It makes a noticeable difference compared with standard burners when you want strong, responsive heat.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the hob a premium, professional feel and hold pans securely in place. They’re more durable than lightweight enamel supports and provide a level, continuous surface so you can slide pans around without wobbling.
Automatic ignition built into the rotary controls keeps daily use simple and tidy – you just turn and light, with no need for separate ignition buttons or matches. The front-mounted dials are easy to see and reach, which is handy when you’re juggling multiple pans.
Safety is well covered with flame failure devices and automatic safety shut-off, so the gas supply cuts if the flame goes out. The hob is also supplied LPG convertible with a kit included, making it flexible for homes without mains gas.
Owners rate it highly overall, which backs up Smeg’s reputation for solid build quality and reliable performance in everyday cooking.
For a four-burner hob the price is on the higher side, largely due to the Smeg name and styling rather than an especially advanced feature set. If you’re not fussed about design, you can find cheaper 60cm gas hobs with similar core functions.
There’s no built-in timer, control panel lock or extra convenience features such as automatic simmer settings or digital displays. Some rival models at this price point offer a little more in terms of programmability or smart touches.
The enamel surface, while in keeping with the classic look, can show marks and stains more readily than top-end glass or stainless finishes, and may need a bit more care to keep it looking pristine.
Finally, the two-year warranty is decent but not outstanding for a premium-branded kitchen appliance, so heavy users may wish it were a little longer.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is refreshingly straightforward. The front-mounted rotary dials are clearly laid out, so you can see at a glance which burner you’re adjusting, and the automatic ignition means each burner lights with a simple twist – no fiddling with separate spark buttons.
The layout of four burners with three different sizes gives you sensible options for everything from a small milk pan to a large casserole. The ultra-rapid burner is particularly good for getting water boiling quickly or delivering strong heat for a wok. The continuous cast iron supports make it easy to slide pans from one burner to another without lifting, and they feel stable even with heavier pots.
At just 3cm high, the hob sits fairly flush with the worktop, which looks neat and makes it easier to wipe around the edges. Cleaning the enamel surface will take a bit of regular attention to avoid baked-on spills, but the open, uncomplicated design means there are no awkward crevices or touch panels to work around.
Installation needs to be done properly: a Gas Safe engineer is required for the gas connection and an electrician will need to attach a plug or cable, but once fitted it’s a simple, familiar appliance to live with.
Performance-wise, this is a solid traditional gas hob with a slight edge thanks to its more powerful burner. The burner power range runs from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW, giving you both gentle heat for simmering and enough punch for fast frying. The dedicated wok burner is the star, ideal for stir-fries, searing steaks or bringing large pans to the boil quickly.
Three different burner sizes make it easier to match pans to the right flame, improving both cooking results and energy use. Smaller burners are good for sauces and low-and-slow dishes, while the larger zones take care of bigger pots and high-heat cooking without crowding the 60cm space.
The hob surface is enamel, which complements the classic Victoria styling and gives a traditional, slightly retro feel. Paired with the heavy cast iron pan supports, it looks and feels more substantial than many budget hobs. The supports themselves are designed to be durable and stable, resisting warping and helping distribute weight evenly across the hob.
On the safety side, the flame failure devices and automatic safety shut-off provide reassurance, especially in busy family kitchens where a gust of air or pan movement can occasionally extinguish a flame. Automatic ignition built into the controls keeps operation intuitive, with no extra switches to worry about.
Installation features are sensible: it’s compatible with LPG and fully convertible, with the kit included, so it works just as well in properties without mains gas. A 3-amp fuse rating and standard 60cm width make it relatively straightforward to integrate into most fitted kitchens, as long as you use qualified professionals for the connection.
At around £379, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is priced above many basic four-burner gas hobs. You’re not paying for an extensive list of advanced features; instead, the value lies in the combination of classic design, strong build quality and a more powerful burner setup.
For buyers who simply want a cheap functional hob, this won’t be the best-value option. However, if you care about aesthetics, want robust cast iron supports, and like the idea of a dedicated wok burner and solid safety features, the price becomes easier to justify.
The very strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 suggests most owners feel they’ve got what they paid for, and possibly more. Considering the premium feel, Italian manufacture and Smeg’s brand reputation, it represents fair value in the mid-to-premium bracket, especially for kitchens where the hob will be on show rather than hidden away.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm gas hob is a well-executed blend of traditional styling and modern practicality. It doesn’t try to be ultra-high-tech; instead, it focuses on solid heat output, reassuring safety features and a design that looks right at home in a classic or country-style kitchen.
The ultra-rapid wok burner, cast iron pan supports and straightforward rotary controls make it a pleasure to cook on, and owner reviews strongly back up its reliability and everyday performance. The lack of advanced extras such as timers, locks or digital controls will bother some, but many will see this as part of its uncomplicated charm.
If you want the cheapest possible 60cm hob, or crave cutting-edge smart features, you’ll be better served elsewhere. But if you’re updating a stylish kitchen, value Smeg’s design language, and want a robust, easy-to-use gas hob that feels a step up from the basics, the Victoria SR964NGH is a very appealing choice.