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 a classic black enamel that’s made to complement traditional and contemporary kitchens alike. It sits firmly in the premium bracket, reflecting Smeg’s focus on design and solid build quality rather than rock-bottom pricing.
You get a straightforward layout with chunky rotary controls at the front, sturdy cast iron pan supports and a powerful wok burner for when you need serious heat. With an excellent 4.8 out of 5 average rating from owners, it’s clearly doing something right for everyday home cooking.
If you want a hob that looks the part, feels robust and keeps to tried-and-tested gas controls instead of touch panels and complex timers, this model is aimed squarely at you.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for households that cook most days and want a dependable, good-looking gas hob rather than the latest smart gadget. Its 60cm width and four-burner layout are spot on for average-sized UK kitchens, whether you’re in a semi, a flat or a small family home.
It suits cooks who appreciate instant, visible gas control and don’t feel the need for touch controls, timers or Wi-Fi features. The powerful wok burner gives you the flexibility to stir-fry, sear steaks or boil large pans quickly, so it’s great if you regularly batch cook or entertain.
If you’re upgrading from a basic budget hob, this feels like a step up in both styling and stability thanks to the cast iron pan supports and Italian build. It’s less suited to those who want ultra-modern glass or induction surfaces, or who rely on built-in timers and child locks for extra control.
The four-burner layout with three different burner sizes makes it easy to match heat output to the pan, helping you simmer sauces gently while another burner delivers full power for boiling pasta or searing.
The dedicated wok burner is a genuine plus. With up to 3.3 kW of power, it delivers fast, intense heat that’s excellent for stir-fries, large pots of chilli or bringing big pans to the boil quickly.
Cast iron pan supports give the hob a solid, premium feel and keep pans stable, even when you’re moving heavy pots around. They’re also more durable than basic enamel supports over the long term.
Automatic ignition built into the rotary dials makes lighting the gas quick and one-handed, while the flame failure safety device and automatic safety shut-off add peace of mind by cutting the gas if the flame goes out.
The styling is a strong selling point: the black enamel surface and Victoria design language suit traditional, shaker and period-style kitchens, and the low 3cm profile helps it sit neatly into most worktops.
There’s no built-in timer or control panel lock, which many modern hobs now offer. If you’re used to setting a hob timer or you have curious children, you may miss these extras.
The enamel surface, while attractive, typically shows scratches and burnt-on marks more readily than some stainless steel or glass alternatives, so it may need a bit more care to keep it looking pristine.
Installation requires both a Gas Safe engineer and an electrician to attach the power cable, and the gas hose is not included, so there may be extra costs on top of the purchase price.
With a two-year warranty, cover is adequate but not especially generous at this price point, where some rivals offer longer guarantees.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be reassuringly simple. The front-mounted rotary dials are easy to reach and clearly laid out, so you’re never fumbling over hot pans to adjust the flame. Automatic ignition means you just turn and press to light each burner, which quickly becomes second nature.
The cast iron pan supports create a continuous cooking surface, so sliding pans from one burner to another is straightforward and feels stable. This is especially handy when juggling several dishes or moving a heavy casserole.
At just 3cm high and 59.5cm wide, it fits neatly into the standard 60cm hob cut-out most UK kitchens already use, helping replacements go smoothly. Cleaning is typical for a gas hob: you’ll need to lift off the pan supports and burner caps, then wipe the enamel surface. Spills wipe off easily if dealt with promptly, but you’ll want a non-abrasive cleaner to avoid dulling the finish.
The absence of extra electronics keeps operation fuss-free – there’s no menu system or display to learn – which many gas traditionalists will appreciate. Safety features work in the background: the flame failure device quietly shuts off the gas if a pan boils over and extinguishes the flame, adding confidence without extra steps.
As a gas hob, the core performance of the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH comes from its burner layout and power range. With burners spanning from 1.05 to 3.3 kW, you can move from a gentle simmer for sauces to full-throttle heat for woks and large pans without feeling underpowered.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner. Placed to give good access with larger pans, it provides fast, intense heat that’s ideal for stir-frying, flash-searing meat or bringing big pots of water to the boil. It’s a meaningful upgrade over basic four-burner hobs that top out with weaker main burners.
The hob surface is finished in enamel, which pairs nicely with the cast iron pan supports to create a sturdy, traditional feel. Enamel surfaces tend to distribute heat well around the burners, and the robust supports help keep even heavier cookware stable while you cook.
On the safety front, the model includes a flame failure safety device and automatic safety shut-off. These features reduce the risk of gas build-up by stopping the gas supply if the flame goes out unexpectedly, which is particularly reassuring in busy family kitchens.
Installation flexibility is another plus. The hob is compatible with both natural gas and LPG and includes a conversion kit, so it can be adapted for properties without mains gas, such as some rural homes or holiday properties. Automatic ignition, integrated design and the standard 60cm width make it easy to integrate into a wide range of kitchen layouts without needing specialist cut-outs.
The SR964NGH sits at a premium price point for a 60cm gas hob, and you are paying partly for the Smeg name and the Victoria styling. It’s not pitched as a budget option, but rather as a well-finished, traditional hob to match a more considered kitchen design.
Viewed against that, the value comes from its build quality, the powerful wok burner, the solid cast iron supports and the added safety features, all wrapped in an Italian-made appliance. These are the details you tend to notice and appreciate over years of daily use.
The strong 4.8/5 user rating suggests that owners generally feel it delivers on expectations, which supports the price as a reasonable investment if you prioritise looks and long-term robustness over cutting-edge features or a rock-bottom cost. If you’re simply after the cheapest functional hob, you can spend less elsewhere, but you’ll likely miss the more premium feel and performance touches this model offers.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a stylish, well-built 60cm gas hob that focuses on doing the basics very well. It combines a powerful wok burner, sturdy cast iron pan supports and straightforward rotary controls in a design that looks at home in both classic and modern kitchens.
Its limitations are mostly around features it doesn’t try to offer: there’s no timer, no control lock and no extra-long warranty, and the enamel surface will reward regular, careful cleaning. For buyers wanting touch controls, glass surfaces or advanced smart functions, a more modern-style hob or induction unit will be a better match.
If you’re happy with traditional gas and want a premium-feeling hob that’s easy to live with and well regarded by other owners, this Smeg is a strong contender. It’s particularly appealing for keen home cooks who will make use of the wok burner and appreciate a solid, timeless bit of kit at the heart of the kitchen.