Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that blends Smeg’s trademark vintage styling with a straightforward, family-friendly layout. Finished in black enamel with chunky rotary dials and cast-iron pan supports, it’s designed to be a focal point in a traditional or shaker-style kitchen.
With four burners including a powerful wok zone, automatic ignition and solid safety features, it’s a classic gas hob rather than a feature-heavy smart appliance. The price sits in premium territory for a 60cm hob, reflecting the brand name and design as much as the spec sheet.
Owners rate it highly, with an excellent average score and a solid number of reviews, suggesting that real-world performance and build quality live up to the promise.
This hob is ideal for style-conscious cooks who want a traditional gas cooking experience without skimping on quality. If you’re renovating a period kitchen or like the retro look of the Smeg Victoria range, this model will fit in beautifully while still feeling robust and practical.
With four burners and a compact 60cm width, it suits small to medium-sized households that cook most days but don’t need a five or six burner layout. The inclusion of a powerful wok burner makes it particularly appealing if you stir-fry regularly or want fast, intense heat for searing and boiling.
In price terms it’s more of a premium mid-range choice than a budget option. It’s a good match for buyers who care about aesthetics and brand reputation as much as pure specs and are happy to pay a bit more for that.
It’s also a sensible option for those who prefer simple, tactile controls. The front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition keep things intuitive, so it’s suitable whether you’re fitting your first built-in hob or replacing an older gas model.
The standout feature is the dedicated wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat up to 3.3kW. That means rolling boils, fast stir-fries and rapid pan heating without waiting around.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the hob a high-end, professional feel and keep pans stable, even when they’re large or heavy. They also span the surface well, so you can shuffle pots across without them catching.
Everyday operation is refreshingly simple thanks to the front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition – you just turn and light. There’s no need to hold down separate buttons or reach awkwardly around hot pans.
On the safety side, the flame failure device and automatic safety shut off mean the gas supply is cut if a flame goes out, which is reassuring in busy family kitchens.
The hob is LPG compatible and supplied with a conversion kit, so it’s suitable for homes running on bottled gas as well as mains, adding flexibility if you’re in a rural property or planning a future move.
For a premium-priced 60cm hob, the specification is deliberately simple. There’s no timer, no control panel lock and no extra convenience features like automatic simmer settings or digital displays, which some rivals offer at a similar or lower price.
The surface is enamel rather than glass or stainless steel. While durable, enamel can show marks if not cared for and may not wipe as effortlessly as a smooth glass surface.
Because the controls are on the front and fully manual, there’s no child lock or touch control to deter curious hands. In homes with very young children, that may be a consideration.
Finally, the standard 2-year warranty is decent but not exceptional for a premium brand; some competitors in this price bracket offer longer cover.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH focuses on being dependable and straightforward. The automatic ignition means each burner lights with a simple twist of the dial – there’s no separate spark button to press, which quickly becomes second nature.
The four-burner layout offers a useful mix of sizes, making it easy to pair the right burner with the right pan. The ultra-rapid burner is the obvious choice for woks and big pots, while the smaller zones suit simmering sauces or gently reheating leftovers.
Cast iron pan supports help pots glide smoothly from one burner to another, and their weight gives a reassuring sense of solidity when you’re stirring vigorously. They also sit securely, so there’s little wobble even with larger cookware.
Cleaning is relatively straightforward: the enamel surface wipes down with standard hob cleaner and a soft cloth once cool, and the pan supports can be lifted off for a more thorough clean. It’s not quite as effortless as a flat glass hob, but the dark finish hides minor marks well.
Installation needs both an electrician to connect the ignition and a Gas Safe engineer for the gas supply, as the gas hose isn’t included. Once installed, there’s very little to fiddle with – it’s a classic manual gas hob that quickly becomes intuitive to use.
Performance is centred around the four gas burners, with a power range from 1.05kW up to a punchy 3.3kW. The ultra-rapid wok burner is the star of the show, delivering strong, concentrated heat that’s ideal for stir-fries, flash searing and bringing large pots of water to the boil quickly.
The remaining burners cover everyday tasks comfortably, with different sizes to suit everything from a milk pan to a family-sized saucepan. Being able to fine-tune the flame level manually makes it easy to control a gentle simmer or crank up to a fast boil.
Safety is well catered for with a flame failure safety device on the burners and automatic safety shut off. If a gust of air, pan boil-over or accidental knock puts out a flame, the gas supply is cut, which reduces the risk of gas build-up.
The pan supports are cast iron rather than thinner enamel or wire, which helps with even support under heavier cookware and contributes to good heat distribution across the base of your pans. They also reinforce the hob’s premium feel compared with more basic models.
Although it lacks digital bells and whistles, this hob does tick key practical boxes: automatic ignition, LPG compatibility with the kit included, and a neat 60cm footprint that fits standard cut-outs. It’s clearly aimed at buyers who value solid fundamentals and a heritage look over advanced electronics.
With a price that sits towards the premium end for a 60cm four-burner gas hob, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH isn’t about chasing the lowest cost. Instead, you’re paying for the combination of Smeg’s design, build quality and brand cachet alongside reliable performance.
The features themselves are competent rather than cutting-edge – you get a powerful wok burner, solid cast iron pan supports and strong safety measures, but no timers, smart connectivity or touch controls. For some, that simplicity is a plus; for others, it may feel a little sparse at this price point.
What strengthens the value proposition is the excellent user rating. A high average score from multiple reviews suggests that owners feel they’ve had their money’s worth in terms of reliability, usability and overall satisfaction.
If your priority is pure function per pound, there are cheaper four-burner hobs available. If you want a well-made, stylish piece of equipment that complements a premium kitchen, the price becomes easier to justify.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a stylish, well-built 60cm gas hob that delivers exactly what most home cooks need: reliable heat, a powerful wok burner and sturdy supports, all wrapped in a classic design that looks the part in a traditional or retro-inspired kitchen.
It doesn’t chase modern extras like digital timers or touch controls, and the enamel surface may not appeal to everyone at this price. However, the strong owner reviews, simple operation and solid safety features show that Smeg has focused on getting the fundamentals right.
If you’re upgrading a kitchen and want a premium-feeling gas hob that prioritises design and dependable everyday performance over techy add-ons, this model is an excellent fit. Those who want maximum features for the lowest possible price may be better off with a more basic brand, but for many, the Victoria’s mix of style and substance will be worth the investment.