Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob with four burners, traditional rotary dials and a smart black enamel finish. It sits in Smeg’s retro-inspired Victoria range, so it’s designed to look as good in a period-style kitchen as it does in a modern one.
With sturdy cast iron pan supports, automatic ignition and a powerful wok burner, it’s clearly aimed at cooks who like the immediacy and control of gas rather than touch controls and glass. User feedback is very positive, with an excellent 4.8 out of 5 rating from owners, suggesting it delivers on both style and everyday practicality.
At this price, it’s positioned as a premium 60cm gas hob rather than an entry-level option, but the specification and build quality go beyond the basics.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for homeowners upgrading a built-in 60cm hob and wanting something that feels solid and looks more upmarket than a standard stainless-steel unit. If you’re fitting out a classic or shaker-style kitchen, the Victoria design language will blend in particularly well.
It suits confident home cooks who actually use all four burners and want the flexibility of a proper wok burner for stir-fries, searing and large pans. The burner power range up to 3.3kW means it can comfortably handle everything from simmering sauces to rapid boiling.
Budget-wise, it’s best suited to mid-range and premium kitchen projects where you’re prepared to pay more for brand reputation, Italian build and cast iron supports. If you simply want the cheapest 60cm gas hob, this isn’t it.
It’s also a good choice if you’re on LPG, because it’s compatible and convertible with a kit included, making it a sensible option for rural homes and holiday properties that don’t run on mains gas.
The four-burner layout with three different burner sizes gives good flexibility, so you can match heat to pan size instead of wasting gas or crowding the hob.
The ultra-rapid wok burner is a real asset if you cook stir-fries, like to sear meat quickly, or need a fast boil; that 3.3kW output is significantly punchier than a standard burner.
Cast iron pan supports are a clear step up from basic enamel trivets, feeling sturdy and helping pans sit level and stable, especially heavier casserole dishes and large frying pans.
Automatic ignition on the rotary dials makes it quick to light – you don’t need a separate gas lighter or matches, which keeps everyday use simple and safe.
Safety is well covered with a flame failure device and automatic safety shut-off, giving peace of mind if the flame goes out or a pan boils over.
LPG compatibility, with a conversion kit included, adds flexibility if you’re off-grid or planning to move the hob to a property with bottled gas.
There’s no built-in timer or control panel lock, so if you’re used to more advanced hobs or have young children around, you may miss those extra safeguards and conveniences.
The enamel surface, while attractive, can mark and scratch more easily than some higher-end glass ceramic finishes, and will need a bit of care to keep looking its best.
At this price point you’re paying partly for the Smeg name and styling; feature-wise it’s still a fairly traditional gas hob without extras like automatic pan detection or clever cooking programmes you’d find on induction.
Installation isn’t plug-and-play: you’ll need both an electrician to handle the power connection and a Gas Safe engineer for the gas supply, which adds to the overall cost.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is straightforward to live with. The front-mounted rotary dials are easy to reach and intuitive to use, so there’s no learning curve – twist and you get instant flame with automatic ignition.
The four burners are spaced sensibly for a 60cm hob, and having three different burner sizes helps avoid juggling pans. The ultra-rapid burner is particularly handy when you’re in a rush, while the smaller burner is better for delicate simmering.
Cast iron supports give the hob a reassuringly solid feel when you slide pans around, but they are weightier than enamel supports, so lifting them off for cleaning is slightly more effort. The enamel surface can be wiped down relatively easily, though you’ll want to clean up spills promptly to avoid staining.
The low profile (3cm high) helps it sit neatly into the worktop, and because it’s an integrated appliance, once it’s installed it feels like a permanent, built-in part of the kitchen rather than an afterthought.
Performance-wise, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH covers the essentials very well. With a burner power range from 1.05kW up to a punchy 3.3kW, you get a useful spread from gentle, controllable heat for sauces to rapid, rolling boils for pasta and potatoes.
The highlight is the ultra-rapid wok burner. Positioned to handle larger pans, it delivers quick, intense heat ideal for wok cooking, searing steaks or quickly reducing sauces. Gas gives you instant feedback when you turn the dial, which many cooks still prefer over electric or induction.
Cast iron pan supports are not just about looks; they spread heat more evenly across the base of your pans and cope better with heavy cookware. Combined with the enamel surface, the hob has a classic, robust feel that suits the Victoria styling.
On the safety front, a flame failure device and automatic safety shut-off help if a gust of air, spill or pan movement extinguishes the flame, cutting the gas to minimise risk. Automatic ignition built into the controls also reduces the temptation to leave gas flowing while you look for a lighter.
It’s also flexible when it comes to fuel. Being LPG compatible and convertible, with the kit included, means the same hob can serve in a mains gas city flat or an off-grid cottage running on bottled gas, without needing a different model.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits in the premium bracket for a 60cm gas hob. You’re not paying purely for extra features; much of the value is in the Smeg brand, Italian build quality and the Victoria design aesthetic.
Against more basic hobs, it justifies its price with sturdier cast iron supports, a more powerful ultra-rapid burner, comprehensive safety features and LPG conversion included as standard. These are all meaningful upgrades if you cook regularly and want your hob to feel substantial.
The strong 4.8 out of 5 user rating with a decent number of reviews suggests owners generally feel they’ve had a good return on their investment. If you’re happy with a traditional gas layout and want something that looks and feels a cut above the average, it offers solid value. If your priority is maximum tech for the money, an induction hob at a similar price could offer more advanced features.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-built, stylish 60cm gas hob that focuses on doing the basics properly. With a powerful wok burner, robust cast iron pan supports and strong safety credentials, it’s clearly designed for people who cook often and want reliable performance.
It doesn’t try to be clever with touch controls or smart features, and the lack of extras like a timer or child lock may put off some buyers. But for those who prefer the feel and control of traditional gas, the simple rotary dials and instant ignition will be exactly what they’re after.
If you’re upgrading a built-in hob in a mid to high-end kitchen and value Smeg’s classic styling as much as the cooking performance, this model is an excellent choice. If you’re on a tight budget or looking for cutting-edge technology, there are more feature-packed alternatives, but few with this blend of charm and everyday usability.