The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that blends traditional styling with practical everyday features. Finished in black enamel with chunky cast iron pan supports, it’s designed to look the part in a more classic or Shaker-style kitchen while still feeling up to date.
With four burners including a powerful wok zone, automatic ignition and key safety features, it covers the basics very well rather than trying to be overly clever. At this price it sits in the premium end of four-burner gas hobs, but the brand’s reputation and solid 4.8 out of 5 owner rating suggest buyers feel they’ve had their money’s worth.
If you want the reassuring feel of real flame, reliable performance and a bit of Smeg charm, this hob aims to hit that sweet spot.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH suits small to medium-sized households that cook regularly and want a dependable, attractive gas hob rather than a basic budget option. The four-burner layout is ideal for day-to-day family meals, with enough space to juggle pans without taking over the whole worktop.
It’s a good match if you like traditional or farmhouse kitchen design. The black enamel surface and robust cast iron supports echo classic range cookers, so it won’t look out of place alongside shaker cabinets and a chimney hood.
If you enjoy stir-fries or use larger pans and stockpots, the dedicated ultra-rapid wok burner will appeal. It gives you quick, intense heat that’s harder to achieve on standard burners, making it suitable for more enthusiastic home cooks.
It’s less suited to those who want lots of bells and whistles – there’s no timer, child lock or smart features. If you’re after a minimalist, ultra-modern glass hob or induction technology, you’ll want to look elsewhere. But if your priority is straightforward, tactile control and flame cooking from a trusted premium brand, it’s a strong contender.
The standout feature is the wok burner, which delivers rapid, focused heat – perfect for stir-fries, searing meat or bringing large pans to the boil quickly. It gives the hob more cooking flexibility than a basic four-burner layout.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports make a real difference in everyday use. They feel solid, give pans a stable base and cope well with heavy cookware, which adds to the premium feel and should help them last over time.
Automatic ignition on the rotary dials means you can light each burner one-handed with a simple twist, without juggling a separate igniter or matches. It’s quick, intuitive and ideal if you cook often.
Safety is reassuringly well covered with flame failure devices and automatic safety shut-off, reducing the risk if a flame goes out. Coupled with Smeg’s two-year warranty and strong user rating, it feels like a safe long-term purchase.
For a four-burner hob, the price is on the higher side, largely reflecting the Smeg badge and styling. If you’re not fussed about looks or brand, there are simpler gas hobs that will cost less.
The enamel surface, while attractive, can mark or chip more easily than some glass or stainless finishes if you’re not careful, and it may take a bit more effort to keep looking pristine around the burners.
There’s no timer, control panel lock or advanced extras such as automatic cooking programmes, which some rivals offer. If you have very young children or rely on built-in timers, you might feel the omissions.
Finally, installation will require both an electrician (for the ignition connection) and a Gas Safe engineer, and the gas hose is not included, so factor in that extra cost and organisation.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is all about straightforward, tactile control. The front-mounted rotary dials are easy to see and reach, so you don’t have to lean over hot pans to adjust the flame. Automatic ignition makes lighting burners quick and fuss-free – twist the dial and you’re cooking.
The four-burner layout, with three different burner sizes, makes it simple to match pans to flames. Simmer sauces on the smaller zones while using the larger burners for boiling pasta or frying. The ultra-rapid wok burner feels noticeably punchier, so if you’re in a rush it’s the one you’ll naturally gravitate towards.
Those chunky cast iron supports hold pans securely and create a continuous surface, so sliding pots from one burner to another feels stable. They do add a little weight when you lift them off for cleaning, but most people will happily trade that for the solid feel and durability.
Cleaning is typical of a traditional gas hob. The enamel top can be wiped down with a soft cloth and non-abrasive cleaner, and the individual pan supports and burner caps can be lifted off for a more thorough clean. It’s not as wipe-and-go as a flat glass induction surface, but the straightforward design means there are few awkward nooks for grime to hide.
Performance-wise, the SR964NGH delivers a sensible spread of power from 1.05 kW up to a punchy 3.3 kW. That range lets you gently melt chocolate or keep sauces ticking over on the smaller burners, while the larger zones and wok burner give you the oomph you need for searing and fast boiling.
The dedicated wok burner is the headline feature. It concentrates heat in the centre of the pan, so you get that high-temperature cooking that gas is known for – ideal for stir-frying, flash-frying steak or quickly reducing sauces. For those used to a basic hob, the step up in heat on this zone will be very noticeable.
Safety is thoughtfully handled. A flame failure safety device monitors each burner, cutting off the gas if the flame goes out unexpectedly, while the automatic safety shut-off adds another layer of protection. Combined with automatic ignition, you get a hob that feels modern and reassuring despite its classic looks.
The enamel hob surface and cast iron pan supports are chosen for durability and aesthetics rather than flashy tech. They give the hob a sturdy, range-style presence on the worktop. At 60cm wide and just 3cm high, it fits standard cut-outs and integrates cleanly, with Smeg providing an LPG conversion kit in the box if you’re on bottled gas.
There are no digital displays, timers or smart controls here – it’s a deliberately simple, analogue experience. For many cooks that’s a plus: fewer electronics to go wrong and a focus on reliable, responsive flame control.
As a Smeg Victoria model, this hob sits in the premium bracket of four-burner gas hobs rather than the bargain end of the market. You’re paying partly for the brand’s design language and Italian build, as well as for the more robust materials like cast iron supports and the inclusion of a high-output wok burner.
If your priority is the lowest possible price, there are cheaper four-burner hobs that will still cook dinner perfectly well. However, the strong 4.8 out of 5 user rating and decent number of reviews suggest that owners feel the extra spend is justified by the build quality, ease of use and styling.
Considering the two-year manufacturer warranty and the flexible LPG compatibility out of the box, the SR964NGH offers fair value for those who want a long-lasting, good-looking hob and are prepared to pay a little more for it. It’s not a value champion in pure pounds and pence, but it makes sense as an investment in a kitchen you’re proud of.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-built, attractive 60cm gas hob that majors on classic styling and no-nonsense performance. The combination of a powerful wok burner, automatic ignition, solid cast iron supports and key safety features makes it a very capable everyday cooker for most homes.
It is more expensive than many basic gas hobs and skips some modern extras like timers and child locks. If you simply want something functional at the lowest price, or you’re drawn to the sleekness and efficiency of induction, you may be better served elsewhere.
For anyone creating a traditional or country-style kitchen, or for keen home cooks who value gas responsiveness and a robust feel, this Smeg hob justifies its premium positioning. It’s a stylish, reliable workhorse that should serve you well for years.
