Home » Product Reviews » Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm Gas Hob review
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm gas hob is a stylish built-in hob aimed at cooks who like traditional gas control with a premium, retro-inspired look. Finished in black enamel with chunky cast iron pan supports, it’s designed to be a focal point in a classic or shaker-style kitchen.
With four burners, including a powerful ultra-rapid wok burner, it’s well suited to everyday family cooking as well as the odd stir-fry night. Automatic ignition, front-mounted rotary controls and built-in safety features keep things simple and reassuring.
A user rating of 4.8 out of 5 from owners is an excellent sign that Smeg has balanced design, performance and usability well, even if you do pay a little extra for the badge and styling.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is ideal for households that cook most days and want a reliable, good-looking gas hob rather than a basic, no-frills option. Four burners cover the essentials for couples and families, from boiling pasta and veg to searing meat.
If you enjoy wok cooking or high-heat frying, the ultra-rapid wok burner will appeal. It delivers quick, intense heat that suits stir-fries and fast searing far better than a standard burner, making this hob a good fit for confident home cooks.
Stylistically, it’s perfect for traditional and country-style kitchens where a modern glass hob might look out of place. The black enamel surface and cast iron pan supports tie in nicely with range cookers and other Victoria collection appliances.
Budget-wise, it sits in the more premium end of the 60cm gas hob market. It’s a strong option if you’re willing to pay extra for Smeg’s design, build quality and brand reputation, rather than hunting for the absolute cheapest four-burner hob.
The standout feature is the ultra-rapid wok burner, which provides a strong, concentrated flame for fast cooking and proper wok stir-fries. If you often cook with larger pans or like high-heat searing, this burner makes a noticeable difference.
Sturdy cast iron pan supports give the hob a solid, professional feel. They grip pans well, distribute weight evenly and are far more robust than lightweight enamel trivets, which helps keep everything stable when you’re juggling multiple pots.
The front-mounted rotary dials are straightforward to use and easy to reach, so you’re not stretching over hot pans to adjust the flame. Combined with automatic ignition, it makes getting started as simple as pushing and turning a knob.
In terms of safety, the flame failure device and automatic safety shut-off are reassuring. If a flame is accidentally blown out, the gas supply is cut, which is particularly important in busy family kitchens.
The hob is LPG compatible and supplied with a conversion kit, so it’s a flexible choice whether you’re on mains gas or bottle gas in a more rural property.
There’s no timer or control panel lock, so you miss out on some of the convenience features found on higher-spec gas or induction hobs. Families with curious children may particularly miss a lock function.
The black enamel surface, while attractive, can show marks, spills and metal scuffs more readily than some glass or stainless finishes. It will reward regular wiping, but might not be the easiest option if you’re a messy cook.
You’re paying a premium price primarily for design and brand appeal rather than a long list of advanced features. If you want minute-precise digital control, automatic cooking programmes or ultra-low simmer settings, a more feature-packed gas or induction hob could offer better value.
Installation isn’t plug-and-play: it needs both an electrician to connect the power and a Gas Safe engineer for the gas connection, and the gas hose isn’t included. That’s standard for many built-in hobs but worth factoring into the overall cost.
Day to day, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is designed to be intuitive. The four rotary dials are clearly laid out at the front, so you can see at a glance which burner you’re adjusting. Automatic ignition means no separate spark button or matches – just push and twist for an instant flame.
The different burner sizes make it practical for varied cooking. Smaller burners handle gentle simmering without overwhelming a small pan, while the larger zones and the ultra-rapid burner cope well with big pots of pasta or a family-sized wok.
The cast iron pan supports create a level, joined-up cooking surface that makes it easy to slide pans between burners. They are weighty, which helps stability but also means a bit more effort when you lift them off for cleaning.
Cleaning the enamel surface is straightforward if you wipe spills quickly, but burnt-on food will need a bit of soaking and a non-abrasive cleaner to avoid scratching. With a low profile height of just 3cm, it sits neatly into the worktop and looks tidy once installed.
Noise is minimal – just the usual soft gas hiss – and there’s no fan involved. With simple controls and no digital interface to learn, it suits anyone who wants a straightforward, familiar gas cooking experience.
Performance centres on the four gas burners, with a power range from 1.05 kW up to 3.3 kW. This spread gives you enough flexibility for both low, gentle heating and powerful boiling and frying. The ultra-rapid burner sits at the top end of that range, delivering the intense heat you want for woks and large pans.
The hob layout includes three different burner sizes, so you can match pan to burner for better efficiency and control. Using the smaller zones for sauces and the larger ones for mains helps avoid scorching and keeps energy use sensible.
Cast iron pan supports are a key feature, both in feel and function. They hold pans steady and cope well with heavy cookware like cast iron casseroles. For keen cooks, this gives the hob a more professional edge than models with thinner, enamel-coated supports.
Safety is well covered for a gas hob of this type. The flame failure safety device and automatic safety shut-off mean the gas supply is cut if the flame goes out unexpectedly, reducing the risk of gas build-up. That’s particularly reassuring in busy, open-plan spaces.
Although there’s no digital display, timer or advanced smart features, the automatic ignition, clear front-mounted controls and LPG compatibility make it a well-rounded traditional hob. It focuses on solid gas performance and classic looks rather than tech-heavy extras.
At around £429, the Smeg Victoria SR964NGH is priced at the premium end for a 60cm four-burner gas hob. You can find cheaper models that offer similar burner counts, but they rarely match the Smeg’s combination of design, build quality and brand appeal.
The value here lies in the sturdy cast iron pan supports, the powerful wok burner and the overall finish, which is clearly aimed at a more upmarket kitchen. If you’re investing in a full Smeg Victoria suite or a carefully styled traditional kitchen, the visual coherence and perceived quality help justify the extra spend.
A strong 4.8 out of 5 rating from owners supports the idea that most buyers feel they’ve got what they paid for. However, if you’re less bothered about aesthetics and more about sheer features per pound, there are more affordable hobs with timers or extra burners that might suit you better.
Overall, it represents good value for style-conscious buyers who prioritise solid gas performance and a high-end look over cutting-edge features.
The Smeg Victoria SR964NGH 60cm gas hob is a well-executed blend of classic styling and straightforward gas performance. The ultra-rapid wok burner, robust cast iron supports and easy rotary controls make it a pleasure to cook on for everyday meals and more adventurous dishes alike.
It’s not the most feature-packed hob on the market and the lack of timer or child lock will be a downside for some. You’re also paying a noticeable premium for the Smeg name and design. But if you want a traditional-looking hob that feels solid, performs reliably and ties in beautifully with a period or country-style kitchen, it’s a very strong contender.
For style-conscious home cooks who still prefer the direct control of gas, this hob is easy to recommend. Those on tighter budgets, or who want advanced digital functions, may be better served by more modern glass gas or induction alternatives.