Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob in black, designed to bring traditional styling and solid performance to a modern kitchen. With four burners, cast iron pan supports and a powerful wok burner, it’s clearly aimed at home cooks who still prefer the instant control of gas.
Sitting at the premium end of the gas hob market for its size, it’s not the cheapest option, but you are paying for Smeg’s distinctive design and Italian build, plus a specification that covers the essentials very confidently. A strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from owners suggests it’s delivering on expectations.
If you want a hob that looks the part in a classic or shaker-style kitchen yet still feels reassuringly robust and easy to live with, this model deserves a close look.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH suits households that do a lot of everyday cooking but don’t need a huge 5- or 6-burner hob. The 60cm width makes it ideal for flats, smaller kitchens or standard 600mm built-in spaces, while still giving you four usable zones and a mix of burner sizes.
It’s a good fit if you enjoy proper pan work – simmering sauces, searing steaks and especially wok cooking. The dedicated ultra-rapid wok burner with up to 3.3kW of power is made for fast stir-fries and big one-pan meals, and the cast iron supports give the stability and confidence you want when handling heavier pots.
Budget-wise, this is more of a premium choice than a budget filler. It’s for buyers who are prepared to pay extra for styling, materials and brand rather than ticking every possible feature box. If you cook daily and like the idea of a classic-looking hob that should feel solid for years, it makes sense.
If you’re after lots of tech – timers, touch controls, child locks or smart connectivity – you may find this a little too traditional. But for those who value straightforward knobs, reliable ignition and a timeless design, that’s exactly the appeal.
The standout strength here is the burner layout and power. With a burner range from 1.05kW up to a punchy 3.3kW ultra-rapid zone, you can gently melt chocolate on a small burner while hitting serious heat for stir-fries or boiling pasta on the wok burner.
The heavy cast iron pan supports are another big plus. They span the hob to create a stable, continuous surface, so moving pans around feels secure, and they lend the hob a more professional look compared with cheaper enamel supports.
Ease of use is excellent thanks to front-mounted rotary dials and automatic ignition. You simply press and twist to light, with no separate ignition button to fiddle with. For families and sharers, this sort of simple control is often more intuitive than modern touch panels.
Safety is well covered too. An automatic safety shut off and flame failure devices mean the gas supply cuts out if the flame goes out unexpectedly, offering peace of mind, especially in busy homes.
Finally, the styling is a major draw. The black enamel surface and Victoria design language look great in both period and modern kitchens, and the low 3cm profile keeps it feeling neat on the worktop.
For a hob at this price, the feature list is deliberately traditional. There’s no timer, no child lock and no digital display, which some buyers now expect as standard on premium models.
The enamel surface, while attractive, won’t be quite as forgiving as some glass or specially coated options when it comes to showing burnt-on spills. It will clean up fine with the right products, but it may need a bit more elbow grease to keep it looking pristine.
Although the 60cm width is perfect for most standard kitchens, anyone who regularly juggles multiple large pans might find the four-burner layout a little restrictive compared with 75cm or 90cm hobs.
The warranty is a fairly standard 2 years. It’s not poor, but at this price point some competitors offer longer cover, so it could be more generous.
Living with the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is very straightforward. The front-mounted rotary controls are clearly laid out and easy to reach without leaning over hot pans. Automatic ignition means you simply push and turn – the burners light quickly, so you’re not standing there with gas hissing while you wait.
The different burner sizes make day-to-day cooking more efficient. You can keep soups and sauces ticking over on the smaller burners while using the medium and wok zones for frying or rapid boiling. The power spread from 1.05kW to 3.3kW gives good control from gentle simmers to high heat.
The cast iron pan supports feel reassuringly robust under heavier pans and casserole dishes. They do add a little weight when you come to lift them off for cleaning, but the trade-off is a more stable surface that’s less prone to rattling when you move pans.
Cleaning is typical of a traditional enamel gas hob. The smooth surface wipes down easily as long as spills are tackled promptly, and the pan supports and burner caps lift off for a more thorough clean. There are no fiddly touch controls or recesses to trap grime, which keeps upkeep relatively simple.
Because this is a built-in gas appliance, you’ll need a Gas Safe engineer for installation and an electrician to connect the ignition, but once fitted it’s a very user-friendly, low-drama bit of kit.
Performance-wise, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH covers the core gas hob essentials very well. The burner power range from 1.05kW to 3.3kW means it can handle everything from delicate tasks like melting butter or simmering custard through to rapid boiling and searing. The ultra-rapid wok burner is particularly effective for dishes that need intense heat and quick response.
Gas control is responsive and predictable, as you’d expect. The combination of automatic ignition and rotary dials means each burner lights quickly and is easy to fine-tune. This will suit cooks who like to adjust the flame on feel rather than relying on digital steps or presets.
In terms of layout, there are four burners with three different sizes. This mix helps make the most of the 60cm footprint, giving you flexibility without the hob feeling cramped. The cast iron pan supports provide a wide, flat platform across all zones, so using larger pans or moving pots between burners feels safe and controlled.
Safety features are well thought through. An automatic safety shut off and flame failure safety devices monitor the burners, cutting off the gas if flames go out. For anyone concerned about leaving a burner on accidentally or about draughts blowing a flame out, those protections are reassuring.
Beyond that, the feature set is intentionally minimal. There’s no built-in timer, cooking sensors or lock functions, and no smart connectivity. Instead, the focus is on dependable mechanics, strong materials and a classic aesthetic. If you prefer a more high-tech hob with touch controls and advanced programming, this might feel basic, but many home cooks will see the simplicity as a plus.
Given its specification and Smeg branding, the Victoria SR964NGH sits in the premium bracket for a 60cm gas hob. You can certainly find cheaper models that will boil water and fry an egg just as effectively.
Where it justifies its price is in the build quality, design and thoughtful core features. The cast iron supports, powerful wok burner, safety systems and Italian-made construction all suggest a product built to feel solid and look good for years, rather than a basic functional appliance.
The strong user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from existing owners is a good indication that people feel they’ve got what they paid for. If your priority is the lowest possible cost, there are better-value options. But if you’re investing in a long-term hob to complement a stylish kitchen, the balance between performance, looks and reliability makes the price easier to swallow.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a well-executed, traditionally styled 60cm gas hob aimed at cooks who value straightforward controls, strong heat and robust build quality. Its wok burner, cast iron supports and safety features combine to deliver a confident everyday cooking experience.
It’s not a feature-packed, tech-heavy model, and the price reflects its premium positioning more than a long list of bells and whistles. If you want touch controls, built-in timers or smart functions, there are more advanced alternatives in the same size.
For anyone fitting out a classic or modern-classic kitchen, or simply looking for a handsome, reliable gas hob that does the basics very well and feels solid under hand, this Smeg is a strong choice. Provided you’re happy to pay a little extra for the styling and brand cachet, it’s an easy hob to recommend.