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, chunky cast iron pan supports and front-mounted rotary controls, it’s aimed at cooks who prefer the immediacy of gas but still want a smart, coordinated look.
Smeg sits firmly in the premium end of the market, and this hob reflects that with its Italian build, neat detailing and emphasis on durability rather than flashy extras. It won’t overwhelm you with tech, but it does focus on the basics: reliable ignition, a proper wok burner and safety shut-off.
With a user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from multiple reviews, owners clearly rate it highly for everyday cooking, making it a strong contender if you’re upgrading an older 60cm gas hob and want something that feels a step up in quality.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for small to medium households that cook most days and want a reliable, good-looking hob rather than a basic budget option. The 60cm width fits a standard cut-out, so it’s a straightforward upgrade for most UK kitchens.
If you enjoy stir-fries, searing meats or cooking in larger pans, the dedicated ultra-rapid wok burner will appeal. It delivers more intense heat than standard burners, making it a solid choice for keen home cooks who like to push their hob a bit harder.
This model suits buyers with a mid-range to premium budget who prioritise build quality and classic design over touchscreen controls or smart connectivity. It’s also a good option if you’re creating a coordinated Smeg Victoria look across your oven and hob.
If you rarely cook or just reheat the odd meal, this may be more hob than you need. Equally, if you want a very large cooking surface or five or more burners, you’ll want to look at wider, higher-capacity models instead.
The four-burner layout with three different burner sizes gives you flexibility for everything from gentle simmering to full-power boiling. It’s easy to have a pan for pasta, a sauce and vegetables on the go without feeling cramped on a standard 60cm footprint.
The ultra-rapid wok burner is a real highlight. With up to 3.3 kW of power, it delivers a strong, focused flame that’s ideal for woks, large frying pans or quickly bringing big pots to the boil.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports add a premium feel and excellent stability. They cope well with heavier cookware, reducing the wobble you often get on cheaper enamel supports, and they span the hob so sliding pans around is reassuringly easy.
Automatic ignition on the rotary dials makes lighting the burners straightforward – just press and twist – and the front control position means you’re not reaching over hot pans to adjust the flame.
Safety is well covered with automatic safety shut-off and flame failure devices, so the gas supply cuts if the flame goes out unexpectedly. LPG compatibility and an included conversion kit add flexibility if you’re on bottled gas rather than mains.
There’s no built-in timer or control panel lock, so you miss out on a couple of convenience and safety features that some modern gas hobs offer, especially if you have young children.
The enamel surface looks smart in black but will usually need more regular wiping than stainless steel or glass to keep it looking pristine, especially around the burners.
As a Smeg Victoria model, you’re partly paying for styling and brand reputation rather than an extensive feature list. If you just want the cheapest possible four-burner hob, there are more basic models that will cost less.
The standard two-year warranty is decent but not exceptional at this price point, and some rivals offer longer cover on certain ranges.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be intuitive. The front-mounted rotary dials are clearly laid out and easy to grip, so adjusting the flame mid-cook is quick and precise without fumbling at the side of the hob.
Automatic ignition means there’s no need for matches or separate spark buttons – a firm push and twist on the control is usually all it takes. Once lit, the different burner sizes make it simple to match pans to the right zone, whether you’re simmering a sauce or boiling a large pot of pasta.
The cast iron pan supports feel solid under hand and give good confidence when you’re moving heavier pots around. Because they cover the hob, you can slide pans rather than lifting, which is especially handy when juggling multiple dishes.
Cleaning is typical for a traditional gas hob. The pan supports and burner caps lift off for a wipe-down, but the enamel surface will show spills and streaks if you don’t keep on top of it. There are no fiddly electronic displays to worry about, and the low 3cm profile helps it sit neatly into the worktop for a clean look.
Performance on the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH centres on a good spread of burner powers from 1.05 kW up to a punchy 3.3 kW. This range lets you move smoothly between gentle simmering, everyday boiling and high-heat cooking without feeling short-changed at either end.
The standout is the ultra-rapid wok burner. Positioned to take larger pans comfortably, it puts out quick, intense heat that’s ideal for wok cooking, fast searing or reducing sauces in a hurry. For many home cooks, this single feature makes the hob feel more capable than a basic four-burner layout.
Three distinct burner sizes make it easier to avoid boiling over or scorching food. Smaller zones suit milk pans and low-heat tasks, while the medium burners cover most day-to-day cooking. The combination works well if you regularly cook multi-component meals.
On the safety side, the hob features automatic safety shut-off and flame failure devices, so if a flame blows out, the gas supply is cut. This is an important reassurance on a gas appliance and is increasingly expected at this level.
Installation-wise, it’s an integrated 60cm hob, requiring a Gas Safe engineer to connect the gas and an electrician to attach the plug or cable. Being LPG compatible with a conversion kit included is a real plus for homes or holiday properties that run on bottled gas rather than mains, adding versatility without needing to buy extra parts.
With a price that places it in the mid to upper range for a standard 60cm gas hob, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH isn’t a bargain-basement option, but it does justify its positioning through build quality, styling and key performance features.
You’re paying for solid cast iron supports, a genuinely powerful wok burner, Italian manufacture and the cohesive Victoria design, rather than a long list of electronic extras. For many kitchens, especially where looks and durability matter, that trade-off will feel worthwhile.
The strong 4.8 out of 5 user rating supports the idea that owners feel they’ve had good value over time, with few complaints about reliability or performance. If you’re upgrading from a very basic hob and want something that feels more substantial under everyday use, the extra investment is likely to feel justified.
If, however, budget is your main priority and you’re less concerned with brand and aesthetics, you can find simpler four-burner hobs for less – albeit usually without the same wok power or premium finish.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is a handsome, well-built 60cm gas hob that gets the fundamentals right. It offers reliable ignition, a sensible burner layout and a genuinely powerful wok burner, all wrapped in a classic black finish with reassuringly solid cast iron supports.
It’s best suited to households that cook regularly and want a hob that feels a step up from entry-level models without venturing into overly complex, feature-heavy territory. Safety features like flame failure cut-off and LPG compatibility add practical appeal.
You do pay a premium for the Smeg name and the Victoria styling, and you don’t get extras like timers or child locks. But if your priorities are reliable gas performance, a strong central wok burner and a traditional look that will complement a quality oven, this hob is a very strong option that should serve you well for years.