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 styled to match Smeg’s retro Victoria range. It blends traditional looks with a practical layout that works well in most British kitchens.
With cast iron pan supports, automatic ignition and a high-powered wok burner, it’s pitched as a premium yet straightforward choice for home cooks who prefer the control of gas over induction. The 4.8 out of 5 user rating from owners suggests it’s delivering on that promise, with very few people left unimpressed.
It’s not the cheapest gas hob around, but you are paying for Smeg’s build quality and design, rather than flashy extras or smart features.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for anyone fitting out a small to medium-sized kitchen who wants the look and feel of a traditional gas hob, but with reliable modern safety features. If you enjoy cooking from scratch several times a week, the four-burner layout and dedicated wok burner will cover most family meals with ease.
It suits buyers with a mid-range to premium budget who value design as much as function. The styling pairs particularly well with classic or shaker-style kitchens, or with other Smeg Victoria appliances, so it’s a strong pick if you’re aiming for a coordinated look.
This hob is also a good option for confident cooks who make good use of intense heat for stir-fries, searing and large pans. The ultra-rapid burner delivers the kind of quick response that’s hard to match on entry-level models.
First-time buyers or those upgrading from a very basic hob will appreciate the simple rotary controls and automatic ignition, but if you want advanced timers, touch controls or smart connectivity, this isn’t the model for you.
The standout feature is the powerful wok burner, which provides quick, intense heat that’s excellent for stir-fries, boiling large pots of water and fast searing. It gives the hob more versatility than many basic four-burner models.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports add a premium feel, hold pans securely and cope well with heavy cookware. They’re also more resistant to wear than cheaper enamelled grates, so they should stay looking smart for longer.
Automatic ignition and front-mounted rotary dials keep everyday use straightforward. One-handed lighting makes it easy to get cooking quickly, and the controls are clearly laid out and accessible.
Safety is well covered with automatic safety shut off and a flame failure device, which cuts the gas if a flame goes out. Combined with LPG compatibility and a conversion kit in the box, it’s well suited to a wide range of UK homes.
At only 3cm high and 60cm wide, it’s a neat, integrated fit for standard worktops, with a classic black finish that blends comfortably into most kitchen designs.
This is a relatively simple gas hob in terms of features. There’s no timer, no control panel lock and no advanced functions such as automatic simmer settings or smart connectivity, which some rivals are starting to offer at similar price points.
The enamel surface can mark or scratch more easily than glass or stainless steel if you’re not careful, and cleaning around raised burners and pan supports will always take a little more effort than on a completely flat surface.
The 2-year warranty is decent but not outstanding for a premium-branded appliance. Some competitors offer longer cover, which may matter if you’re planning to keep the hob for many years.
Finally, because it requires both an electrician to attach a plug or cable and a Gas Safe engineer for installation, total fitted cost will be higher than the ticket price alone.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH feels reassuringly solid. The cast iron supports give a stable platform for everything from small saucepans to big casseroles, and the three different burner sizes make it easy to match the flame to your pan.
Automatic ignition means there’s no separate spark button: simply turn the front-mounted knob and the burner lights. The dials have a familiar, mechanical feel that many cooks prefer over touch controls, and because they’re located at the front, you don’t have to reach over hot pans to adjust the heat.
Heat control across the 1.05 to 3.3 kW range is smooth, so simmering sauces or keeping food warm is just as straightforward as blasting heat on the wok burner. The low profile design keeps it looking unobtrusive on the worktop and makes it easier to wipe crumbs and spills from around the frame.
Cleaning, as with most traditional gas hobs, involves removing the heavy pan supports and burner caps. The enamel surface can be wiped down with standard non-abrasive cleaners, but you’ll want to avoid harsh scourers to keep the black finish looking its best.
With built-in flame failure safety and automatic shut off, the hob is reassuring if you have children or pets around, although there is no dedicated child lock on the controls themselves.
As a 60cm, four-burner hob, the Victoria SR964NGH hits the core performance notes well. The burner power range from 1.05 to 3.3 kW covers low, medium and high heat cooking, with three burner sizes to suit different pans. The ultra-rapid burner at the top end is where it stands out, delivering strong, focused heat that’s ideal for wok cooking and fast boiling.
Being a gas hob, response is instant. Turn the dial and the flame responds immediately, which makes tasks like gently reducing sauces or bringing something quickly back to the boil very intuitive. For keen cooks who rely on visual control of the flame, this will feel familiar and satisfying.
The traditional enamel surface is practical and hard-wearing when looked after, while the cast iron pan supports are both robust and heat-retentive. They help distribute heat evenly under heavier pans and contribute to the overall feeling of a well-built, premium product.
Safety features are comprehensive for this type of hob. Flame failure safety devices on the burners, automatic ignition and automatic safety shut off mean that if a flame goes out, the gas supply will cut, significantly reducing risk. These are exactly the protections you’d hope to see on a modern gas appliance.
It doesn’t layer in advanced extras like touch sliders, individual burner timers or hob-to-hood connectivity. Instead, the feature set focuses on reliability and strong core cooking performance. In a crowded gas hob market, its main differentiators are the combination of classic Victoria styling, the powerful wok burner and those heavy-duty pan supports.
This Smeg hob sits towards the premium end of the 60cm gas hob market. You can certainly find cheaper four-burner models, but they often compromise on build quality, burner power or design.
Here, the price reflects the brand reputation, Italian manufacture, cast iron supports and the inclusion of a high-powered wok burner. For cooks who will genuinely use that extra performance and who care about how their appliances look, it represents fair value.
The strong 4.8/5 user rating, backed by a solid number of reviews, suggests that most owners feel they’ve got what they paid for, if not more. Reliability and satisfaction over time are key parts of value, and this model seems to score highly on both.
If you’re simply after the cheapest functional hob, this won’t be the right choice. But if you’re comfortable paying a little more for style, sturdier materials and confident day-to-day performance, the SR964NGH makes a convincing case.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed 60cm gas hob that focuses on doing the basics very well, then adds a dash of retro style and a powerful wok burner to set itself apart. It will appeal strongly to home cooks who value the immediacy of gas, want a dependable everyday hob and appreciate classic design.
You don’t get cutting-edge electronics or smart features, and the enamel surface will require a bit of care to keep it looking pristine. The price is also higher than no-frills alternatives. But in return, you get solid build quality, robust cast iron supports, comprehensive safety features and performance that owners clearly rate highly.
If you’re putting together a stylish, mid to high-end kitchen and want a reliable gas hob that feels as good as it looks, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is an excellent choice. Those on a tight budget or hunting for touch controls and timers may be better served elsewhere, but for most gas enthusiasts, it strikes a very pleasing balance.