Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that mixes traditional styling with dependable everyday performance. Finished in black enamel with chunky metal controls and cast iron pan supports, it’s clearly pitched as a more premium, design-led option than most basic gas hobs.
At this price it sits towards the upper end of the standard 60cm gas hob market, but you are paying for the Smeg name, the retro Victoria styling and a solid all-round specification including a powerful wok burner and automatic ignition.
Owners rate it very highly, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from a good number of reviews, suggesting that in real kitchens it looks the part and is straightforward to use day to day.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for anyone upgrading a freestanding cooker or older hob and wanting something that looks smarter on show. If you have a traditional or Shaker-style kitchen, the Victoria design language will fit right in without looking overly modern or clinical.
With four burners and three different burner sizes, it’s aimed squarely at everyday family cooking rather than huge dinner parties. You can comfortably run a couple of pans plus the wok at once, making it well suited to small and medium-sized households.
Budget-wise, this is a mid-to-premium choice rather than an entry-level hob. If you simply want the cheapest 60cm gas hob, there are more basic options. If you’re happy to pay a bit more for sturdier cast iron supports, a fast wok burner and the Smeg badge, this model fits the bill.
It’s also a good match for cooks who prefer simple, tactile controls. There are no touch panels or smart features to get used to – just front-mounted rotary dials, automatic ignition and straightforward flame control, so it will suit everyone from first-time buyers to confident home cooks.
The standout feature is the dedicated wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat for stir-fries, searing and large pans. It gives you the punch that many basic four-burner hobs lack, making high-heat cooking much easier.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports run across the hob, giving a reassuringly solid base for heavier cookware and making it easy to slide pans from one burner to another. They also add to the premium look and feel compared with lighter enamelled supports.
Everyday use is simple thanks to the automatic ignition and front-mounted rotary dials – you can light and adjust each burner with one hand and see exactly what you’re doing without leaning over hot pans.
Safety is well covered. There’s a flame failure safety device on the burners and automatic safety shut-off, so the gas supply is cut if the flame goes out unexpectedly. It’s also supplied with an LPG conversion kit, which is handy if you’re on bottled gas rather than mains.
For a hob in this price bracket, the feature set is intentionally traditional rather than high-tech. There’s no timer, no control panel lock and no touch controls or smart connectivity, which some buyers may now expect from a premium brand.
The black enamel surface looks smart but will show grease, spills and scratches more readily than some stainless steel or glass alternatives, so it may need a bit more regular wiping down to stay pristine.
A two-year warranty is decent but not exceptional at this price point; some rivals now offer longer cover, which may matter if you’re planning a long-term kitchen investment.
Finally, as a 60cm four-burner layout, it doesn’t offer the extra space or fifth zone you’ll find on wider hobs – keen entertainers or batch cooks might find it a little limiting when every burner is in use.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be fuss-free. The automatic ignition means you simply press and turn a dial for the burner to light, with no separate ignition button or matches required. The front control position keeps everything within easy reach, so you’re not stretching over hot pans to adjust the flame.
The combination of three different burner sizes, spanning from 1.05 kW up to a punchy 3.3 kW on the ultra-rapid wok burner, gives good flexibility. You can simmer sauces gently on the smaller zones while using the powerful burner for quick searing or boiling pasta water.
Cast iron pan supports give excellent stability, particularly for heavier cast iron casseroles and large woks. Their continuous design also makes it simple to slide pans across the hob without lifting. They do add some weight when you remove them for cleaning, but they feel built to last.
Cleaning is straightforward but, as with all enamel hobs, it pays to wipe up spills quickly to avoid baked-on stains. The relatively flat surface and removable supports mean you can get around the burners without too much fiddling. With no electronic displays or touch panels, there’s very little to go wrong and no menus to navigate – it’s a classic gas cooking experience.
Performance-wise, this hob is built around four gas burners with a power range from 1.05 to 3.3 kW. The smaller burner is well suited to gentle tasks like melting chocolate or keeping food warm, while the mid-sized zones handle everyday boiling and frying. The ultra-rapid wok burner is the star, producing strong, focused heat that’s ideal for stir-frying, searing meat and bringing large pans up to the boil quickly.
The hob surface is finished in black enamel, which complements the Victoria styling and gives a more traditional look than sleek glass-ceramic alternatives. While enamel won’t have the perfectly flat feel of glass, it’s robust and less prone to shattering from impacts, which many families will appreciate.
Controls are deliberately simple: rotary dials at the front with automatic ignition built in. There’s no learning curve – just turn and light – making it accessible to all ages and abilities. The absence of electronic touch pads also means you avoid accidental changes from water splashes or resting utensils.
On the safety front, the inclusion of a flame failure safety device and automatic safety shut-off is reassuring. If a pan boils over or a draught extinguishes the flame, the gas supply cuts out to reduce the risk of leaks. The hob is compatible with both natural gas and LPG, and the conversion kit is included in the box, which is a real bonus for homes running off bottled gas.
Installation-wise, it’s a standard 60cm integrated gas hob, so it should drop into most existing cut-outs in UK kitchens. It requires both a Gas Safe registered engineer for the gas connection and an electrician to attach the plug or cable, which is typical for this category, but something to budget for if you’re replacing an older appliance.
With a price that sits towards the higher end of standard 60cm gas hobs, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH isn’t a budget purchase. You’re clearly paying a premium for design, brand and build, rather than an extensive list of high-tech extras.
However, the strong owner rating of 4.8 out of 5 suggests that most buyers feel they have had good value from it. The powerful wok burner, robust cast iron supports, comprehensive gas safety features and smart, timeless styling all contribute to that sense of quality.
If your priority is the lowest possible cost, there are simpler four-burner hobs that will cook just as effectively. If you want something that looks and feels more upmarket, with practical touches like LPG compatibility and a reassuringly solid build, the Victoria SR964NGH justifies its price for many households.
Overall, it offers good – if not bargain-basement – value for those who care about design as much as function and plan to keep their hob in place for several years.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a stylish, solidly built 60cm gas hob that delivers classic cooking with a premium feel. Its combination of a powerful wok burner, sturdy cast iron pan supports and simple rotary controls makes it a pleasure to use for everyday family meals.
It doesn’t chase the latest trends in hob technology – there’s no induction, touch control or smart connectivity here – and the feature list is fairly traditional given the price. But that’s also its appeal: it focuses on reliable gas performance, strong safety credentials and a design that looks right at home in a more classic or country-style kitchen.
If you want a dependable, good-looking gas hob from a respected Italian brand and are willing to pay a bit more for style and build quality, the Victoria SR964NGH is an excellent choice. If you’re on a tight budget or keen on advanced electronic features, you may be better served by a more modern-styled alternative.