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 with traditional rotary dials. It’s very much in keeping with Smeg’s retro styling, aimed at buyers who want their hob to look as good as it cooks.
With cast iron pan supports, automatic ignition and a powerful wok burner, it’s more than just a pretty face. Priced in the mid to upper bracket for a 60cm gas hob, it targets households that are happy to pay a bit more for design and solid build rather than chasing the absolute lowest price.
An impressive 4.8 out of 5 rating from owners, based on a healthy number of reviews, suggests it delivers on everyday usability and reliability once it’s in place.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for households that cook most days and want a dependable, traditional gas hob with a smarter, more classic look than standard stainless steel models. If your kitchen follows a vintage, shaker or country style, the black enamel and old-school dials will fit in nicely.
It suits small to medium-sized homes that don’t need more than four burners at once, but do want the flexibility of a strong wok burner for quick stir-fries, searing steaks or fast boiling. With three different burner sizes and power up to 3.3 kW, it’s well matched to varied family cooking.
In budget terms, this sits as a mid-range to premium 60cm hob. It’s for buyers who are prepared to pay above entry-level prices in exchange for Smeg design, Italian build and sturdier materials like cast iron pan supports.
It’s also a good fit for first-time renovators who want something straightforward to use. The front-mounted rotary controls and automatic ignition mean you won’t be hunting through menus or fiddling with complex settings.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat up to 3.3 kW. That makes fast stir-fries, rapid boiling and high-heat searing much easier than on basic four-burner hobs that only offer standard rings.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the hob a premium feel and help keep pans stable, even when you’re using heavier cookware like cast iron casseroles. They’re also more durable than lightweight enamelled grids often found on cheaper models.
Everyday operation is simple and satisfying. Automatic ignition works via the rotary dials, so you just press and turn to light a burner, and the front control position makes it easy to reach everything without stretching over hot pans.
Safety has been sensibly covered with flame failure devices and automatic safety shut-off, which cut the gas if a flame goes out. LPG compatibility with a supplied conversion kit is a useful extra for homes running off bottled gas.
Finally, owner feedback is very strong, with a 4.8/5 average rating indicating that real-world users are happy with performance, ease of use and build quality.
There are no advanced extras such as a timer, control panel lock or any form of touch control or digital display. If you’re used to induction-style features like precise temperature control, timers on each zone or child locks, this will feel quite basic.
The enamel surface, while attractive, can show scratches and marks more easily than some higher-end glass or stainless options, and it typically needs more careful cleaning to stay glossy. The chunky cast iron supports also add weight and can be slightly awkward to lift off for a quick wipe.
As a Smeg product, you’re paying a premium over very similar gas hobs from less design-led brands that offer comparable burner layouts. The two-year warranty is standard rather than standout in this price band.
It also requires both a Gas Safe engineer for installation and an electrician to attach the plug or cable, which can add to the overall cost if you’re upgrading from an existing hob.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be straightforward. The front-mounted rotary dials mean you can see and reach every control without leaning over pans, and the automatic ignition saves the faff of separate spark buttons or matches — one push and twist and you’re cooking.
The four burners are arranged to give you a clear choice of power: a dedicated wok burner for big pans and high heat, plus smaller zones for simmering and gentle cooking. This combination makes it easy to have a sauce ticking over while you blast heat into a stir-fry or bring a large pot to the boil.
Cast iron pan supports create a continuous, stable surface so sliding pans from one burner to another feels secure. They do add a bit of heft when you remove them for cleaning, but their solidity is reassuring when you’re working with heavy pots. The enamel surface underneath is flat and simple in shape, so once the supports are off, a wipe-down is fairly quick as long as spills are tackled promptly.
Noise is minimal – as with any gas hob, you’ll hear the gentle hiss of gas and the click of ignition, but there are no fans or electronics to add extra sound. Once installed by a Gas Safe engineer and wired by an electrician, there’s nothing complicated to manage: no software, no apps, just a traditional, responsive gas flame.
Performance-wise, the SR964NGH focuses on doing the gas basics well. The burner power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW gives you enough finesse at the low end for simmering and keeping food warm, while the ultra-rapid burner delivers the punch needed for wok cooking, large pans of pasta or quick boiling.
There are three distinct burner sizes shared across the four zones, so you can match pans properly to their heat source. This helps improve efficiency and control: use the smaller burner for sauces or porridge, the medium for everyday frying and boiling, and the powerful wok burner when you really need speed.
Automatic ignition built into each rotary dial makes lighting reliable and hassle-free. Combined with the enamel surface and clear burner layout, the hob is easy to read at a glance. The pan supports are cast iron rather than thin steel, which not only look and feel more premium but also help spread heat more evenly under the pan by keeping it solidly in place.
On the safety side, the hob includes a flame failure safety device and automatic safety shut off. If a flame is blown out by a draught or a pan boiling over, the gas supply is cut automatically, which is especially reassuring in busy family kitchens.
It’s LPG compatible and comes with a conversion kit, so it can be configured for bottled gas systems as well as mains. While there are no timers, touch controls or smart features, for many buyers the simplicity is a plus: fewer electronics to go wrong and a clear, traditional interface that anyone can use.
At its current price, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH sits above the cheapest 60cm gas hobs on the market and edges into the premium design-led space. You’re paying not just for four burners, but for the Smeg branding, retro styling and more substantial materials like cast iron supports.
From a features perspective, it doesn’t chase high-tech gimmicks. There’s no timer, lock or digital display, so pure spec hunters may find better-equipped models for a similar outlay. However, the strong core performance — particularly the powerful wok burner and robust build — goes a long way towards justifying the cost if you value simple, reliable gas cooking.
The very positive owner rating of 4.8/5 suggests that most buyers feel they’ve had good return on their money, with few regrets after installation. If you want a stylish, traditional hob from a well-known Italian brand and don’t mind paying a modest premium for the look and feel, the value proposition is solid. If you’re purely budget-driven, there are more basic options that will cook just as effectively for less.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed traditional gas hob that blends classic styling with genuinely capable performance. The powerful wok burner, sturdy cast iron supports and straightforward, front-mounted controls make everyday cooking feel secure and responsive, while the black enamel finish adds a touch of character to the kitchen.
It’s not the most feature-packed hob you can buy for the money, and those wanting timers, child locks or touch controls may be better served by a more modern-styled model or induction. The enamel surface also demands a little care to keep it looking its best, and the required professional installation adds to the overall cost.
For anyone who prefers the feel of real flame, values design and build quality over bells and whistles, and wants a 60cm hob that looks as considered as the rest of the kitchen, the Victoria SR964NGH is an excellent choice. It’s a dependable, good-looking workhorse that should keep keen home cooks happy for years.