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 solid everyday performance. Finished in black enamel with chunky front-mounted controls, it’s designed to complement classic and country-style kitchens as much as modern spaces.
With four burners including a powerful wok zone, automatic ignition and robust cast iron pan supports, it focuses on reliable, no-fuss gas cooking rather than flashy extras. Priced firmly in the premium bracket for a 60cm hob, you’re paying as much for the Smeg design and build as the specification.
Owners clearly rate it highly: it holds an excellent 4.8 out of 5 from user reviews, suggesting strong real-world reliability and an easy cooking experience once installed.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a great fit if you want a stylish, traditional-looking hob that still feels solid and modern in daily use. Its 60cm width makes it ideal for standard UK kitchens, from small flats through to family homes where space is at a premium.
It suits home cooks who actually enjoy cooking and want responsive heat control. The inclusion of a dedicated wok burner means stir-fries, searing and large one-pan meals are handled with ease, so it’s particularly appealing if you regularly cook for a couple or a small family and like to experiment a bit.
Budget-wise, this is more of a premium mid-range purchase than a bargain option. If you simply want the cheapest possible four-burner hob, there are less expensive alternatives. But if you value Smeg’s design, Italian build and a more substantial feel under your pans, this model is aimed squarely at you.
It’s also a sensible choice for anyone converting to LPG, as it’s fully compatible and comes with the conversion kit included, making it practical for rural or off-grid homes as well as city kitchens on mains gas.
The standout is the dedicated wok burner, which delivers quick, intense heat for fast stir-fries, searing meat and rapidly boiling large pots. It gives this otherwise compact hob a welcome performance edge.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports add a genuinely premium feel. They’re heavier and more stable than basic enamel grids, so pans sit securely and move smoothly between burners, which is reassuring when handling full pots or large frying pans.
Everyday usability is strong thanks to the simple front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition. You just turn and cook, with no fiddling with separate ignition buttons.
Safety is well covered for a gas hob, with a flame failure device on the burners and automatic safety shut off, reducing the risk if a flame is blown out or left unattended.
Being LPG compatible with the conversion kit in the box is another plus, saving you the extra cost and hassle of sourcing jets separately if you’re on bottled gas.
Despite the premium price, the feature set is quite traditional. There’s no timer, no control panel lock and no advanced functions such as automatic simmer settings or digital displays, which some similarly priced hobs now offer.
The enamel surface looks smart but usually marks and scratches more readily than glass or stainless steel if not treated carefully. It may also take a little more effort to keep looking pristine compared with a flat-glass hob.
Front-mounted controls are convenient, but in busy family kitchens they are easier for small children to reach, and there’s no control lock to prevent accidental operation, so you’ll need to be mindful of that.
The two-year warranty is decent but not outstanding at this price point, where some rivals offer longer cover for built-in appliances.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH feels reassuringly solid. The cast iron pan supports have enough weight that they don’t slide around when you’re moving a heavy pan from one burner to another, and the three different burner sizes give sensible flexibility for small saucepans, everyday frying and larger stockpots.
Automatic ignition makes getting started effortless. Turn the rotary knob and the burner sparks into life without needing a separate ignition button or matches, which is handy when your hands are full or slightly damp from food prep.
The low 3cm profile means it sits almost flush with the worktop, so it doesn’t dominate the kitchen and is comfortable to work around. Cleaning is fairly straightforward: the pan supports lift off in sections so you can wipe down the enamel surface. That said, enamel typically needs a bit more regular wiping to avoid build-up and staining, especially around the burners.
Installation is straightforward but does require a Gas Safe registered engineer, and you’ll need an electrician to attach the plug or cable. Once in place, it’s a simple, unfussy hob that quickly becomes second nature to use.
Performance-wise, the burner power range of 1.05 to 3.3 kW covers most cooking tasks comfortably. The smaller zones are ideal for gentle simmering and keeping sauces warm, while the ultra-rapid wok burner provides the punch needed for fast cooking and rapid boiling.
The four-burner layout with three different zone sizes makes the 60cm width work hard, letting you run a couple of large pans and two smaller ones at the same time without feeling overly cramped. For most homes, that’s plenty for everyday meals and the odd dinner party.
Gas control is fully manual via the rotary dials, so adjustments are instant and intuitive. There’s no electronic temperature management or pre-set programmes, but many cooks prefer the direct response of traditional gas controls anyway.
On the safety front, the flame failure device and automatic safety shut off provide important reassurance. If a flame goes out unexpectedly, the gas supply is cut, which is particularly valuable on an open gas hob.
The ability to convert to LPG with the supplied kit adds versatility, especially for homes not on mains gas. Combined with its integrated-build design and standard 60cm width, this makes the SR964NGH a flexible choice for a wide range of kitchens.
This is a premium-priced 60cm gas hob, and you can certainly find cheaper four-burner options with similar basic layouts. However, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH justifies much of its cost through build quality, design and brand cachet rather than headline features.
You’re getting robust cast iron supports, a powerful wok burner, solid safety provisions and Italian manufacture, all wrapped in a classic aesthetic that pairs nicely with other Smeg Victoria appliances. For many buyers, that cohesive look and feel will be worth the stretch over a no-name alternative.
The strong 4.8 out of 5 user rating reinforces that owners generally feel they’ve had good value, particularly in terms of reliability and day-to-day performance. If you want the lowest possible price, this isn’t it; if you’re comfortable paying more for a hob that looks and feels upmarket and should last, the value proposition is much stronger.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed, traditional gas hob that focuses on the fundamentals: stable pan supports, responsive heat and a powerful wok burner, all wrapped in a stylish black enamel finish. It’s clear from owner reviews that it delivers a satisfying cooking experience and feels built to a high standard.
It does lack some of the bells and whistles seen on newer high-tech hobs, such as timers, locks and touch controls, and the enamel surface needs a bit of care to keep looking its best. Given its premium pricing, it’s not the obvious choice if your priority is ticking the most feature boxes for the least money.
If you’re drawn to Smeg’s classic Victoria styling, want dependable gas performance with a strong wok burner and value solid build over smart extras, this hob is an excellent option. Those seeking advanced functions or working to a tight budget may be better off looking at more feature-packed or cheaper alternatives.