Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a 60cm built-in gas hob that combines traditional styling with a straightforward, no-nonsense cooking experience. Finished in black enamel with chunky cast iron pan supports, it’s designed to look the part in a more classic or country-style kitchen while still feeling solid and up to date.
With four burners, including a powerful ultra-rapid wok burner, it’s geared towards busy everyday cooking rather than flashy smart features. Automatic ignition, front-mounted rotary dials and built-in safety shut-off keep things simple and reassuring.
Owners rate it very highly, with an excellent user score around 4.8 out of 5 from a healthy number of reviews, suggesting that real-world performance and build quality live up to the Smeg badge.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for households that do a lot of traditional hob cooking and want something that feels solid and dependable rather than ultra-modern and touch-sensitive. If you’re upgrading a tired 60cm hob in a family kitchen, this will slot into the same space while offering a noticeable step up in quality.
It suits home cooks who like to mix everyday meals with more adventurous stir-fries or one-pan dishes. The inclusion of a dedicated wok burner that can reach up to 3.3kW gives you the intense, focused heat you need for searing and fast cooking, while the other burners cover gentle simmering and boiling duties.
In pricing terms, this sits in the premium bracket for a standard 60cm gas hob, reflecting the Smeg name, Italian build and cast iron supports. It’s best for buyers prepared to pay a little more for styling and sturdier construction rather than chasing the very lowest price.
If you’re a first-time hob buyer or not especially techy, the straightforward rotary controls, automatic ignition and lack of complex extras make it easy to live with. If you’re hunting for advanced timers, touch controls or smart connectivity, you’ll want to look higher up the feature ladder.
The standout strength of the SR964NGH is its combination of classic design and robust build. The heavy cast iron pan supports feel substantial, give your pots and pans a stable base, and instantly lift the look of the hob compared with cheaper enamel or wire designs.
Performance is another plus. With four burners covering a 1.05kW low-output zone up to a 3.3kW ultra-rapid wok burner, you get a good spread of heat levels. That makes it easy to keep a sauce gently ticking over while you blast the wok on full power or bring a big pan of water to the boil quickly.
Ease of use is strong too. Automatic ignition on each burner, controlled by front-mounted rotary dials, means you simply turn and light in one motion. There’s no fiddling with matches or separate buttons, and the layout is intuitive for anyone used to a traditional gas hob.
Safety is clearly considered. A flame failure device cuts the gas if a flame goes out, and automatic safety shut-off provides extra peace of mind. For a busy household, that’s reassuring, especially with children around the kitchen.
Finally, the two-year manufacturer warranty and excellent user rating suggest solid reliability and good owner satisfaction over time.
For a hob at this price point, the feature set is quite traditional. There’s no integrated timer, control panel lock or advanced digital display, which some rival models now include to help with family safety and precise cooking.
The enamel surface, while attractive in black, can show marks and may take a little more care to keep looking pristine than some stainless steel or glass alternatives. Spills will need to be wiped up promptly to avoid staining or discolouration over time.
Although the flame failure device and safety shut-off are present, the lack of a control panel lock may be a minor concern in homes with very young children who can reach the front-mounted dials.
Finally, installation requires both an electrician to attach a plug or cable and a Gas Safe registered engineer for the gas connection, with a hose not included. That’s standard for built-in gas hobs, but it does add to the overall cost if you’re working to a tight budget.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be uncomplicated. The front-mounted rotary controls are easy to see and reach, so you don’t have to lean over hot pans to adjust the flame. Automatic ignition means each burner lights with a simple twist, which is particularly handy when you’re juggling several pots at once.
The cast iron pan supports create a flat, continuous platform across the hob. That not only looks premium but also makes it easier to move pans from one burner to another without tipping, especially heavier casserole dishes. The trade-off is that they add some weight when you lift them for cleaning, but they’re built to last.
With a low-profile 3cm height and standard 60cm width, it integrates neatly into most worktops without dominating a smaller kitchen. The black enamel surface gives a smart, co-ordinated look, particularly alongside other Smeg Victoria appliances.
Cleaning is fairly straightforward: the supports lift off so you can wipe down the enamel beneath. As with any dark enamel hob, regular wiping after cooking will keep it at its best and prevent baked-on splashes becoming stubborn.
There are no complex settings or menus to learn, so once installed, it’s essentially a case of turn, light and cook – exactly what many people want from a gas hob.
At the heart of the SR964NGH is its burner layout. You get four gas burners with three different sizes, covering a power range from 1.05kW up to a punchy 3.3kW ultra-rapid burner. That spread lets you handle everything from delicate melting and gentle simmering to fast boiling and high-heat stir-frying without compromise.
The dedicated wok burner is a particular highlight. Placed to accommodate larger pans, it delivers quick, intense heat ideal for proper wok cooking, searing steaks, or rapidly reducing sauces. It makes this hob a good fit for anyone who likes to cook with a bit of flair and speed.
The enamel surface provides a smooth, even base and helps with heat distribution under the supports. Combined with the cast iron pan supports, this gives a stable cooking platform that feels far more premium than lightweight metal grids on budget hobs. The supports are designed to be durable and to hold heavier cookware confidently.
On the convenience front, automatic ignition is built into the controls so you don’t need a separate ignition button. Simply twist the dial and the burner sparks into life. The front control position keeps everything within easy reach, which is especially helpful when multiple burners are going.
Safety features include a flame failure device that shuts off the gas if a flame is accidentally extinguished, along with automatic safety shut-off. The hob is also supplied LPG-convertible with a kit included, so if your home uses bottled gas rather than mains, it can be configured accordingly by a qualified engineer.
This is not a bargain-basement hob; it’s priced in line with Smeg’s reputation as a premium brand and the classic Victoria styling. You’re paying for the design, the solid feel of the cast iron supports, and the quality of the burner setup rather than a long list of digital extras.
Given the strong user rating of around 4.8 out of 5 from numerous reviews, most owners clearly feel they’ve had good value in terms of reliability and day-to-day performance. The inclusion of a powerful wok burner and robust safety features adds to its appeal against similarly priced, but more basic, models.
If your priority is the lowest possible price or lots of smart features for your money, there are cheaper or more feature-packed alternatives in the wider market. However, if you want a traditionally styled 60cm gas hob from a respected brand, with sturdy construction and a solid two-year warranty, the SR964NGH makes a persuasive case for its asking price.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm gas hob is a strong choice for anyone who values classic styling, solid build and straightforward operation over flashy extras. Its combination of cast iron supports, a powerful wok burner and simple rotary controls delivers exactly what most home cooks need, with a reassuring layer of safety features built in.
It’s particularly well suited to medium-sized households and busy family kitchens where the hob gets used daily, and where a more traditional look fits the rest of the décor. The premium price reflects the Smeg name and the quality feel rather than a long spec sheet, but the very positive owner feedback suggests it earns its keep over time.
If you want touch controls, integrated timers or smart connectivity, you may wish to look at more modern-styled alternatives. For everyone else, this is a dependable, attractive gas hob that should serve you well for years.