We stayed in the 'cottage' next door to the Duke William in November 2010. The stairs were uneven and it could've done with some love, however this is costly as a previous reviewer stated.
It was a perfect location as our friends lived around the corner. The hill requires energy but Lincoln is so beautiful that we didn't mind this at all.
The staff were very accommodating, even (prior to visit) allowing our kitty to stay with us! The cottage had everything we needed - kitchen, dining table, lounge etc. It met our needs well, despite not being too fancy. We had a key to the front door which lead onto the main street and the price was good and we had a lovely stay!

I booked by telephone for a double room for 26th November 2011. This was confirmed by a member of staff. No deposit was taken as they preferred cash on the day.
I arrived on Saturday afternoon to be told the booking had not been made.
A young gentleman behind the bar was very apologetic, but the man I assumed was the boss, did not seem overly concerned.
They did offer to show me a room that someone else had booked but had not arrived yet
(3.30 in the afternoon) but two keys did not fit the lock.
I declined the offer.
Obviously I had a problem finding alternative accomodation at this late stage in the day.
I will not be using this hotel again.

i booked this accomodation prior to reading reviews.. i was struggling to find somewhere with a family room so i booked it quickly and without much thought.. i then, went on to read the reviews.. i was concerned, but not unduly, as often people are happy to review when things have gone wrong but not when things have been ok...
We arrived around 1.45pm... by the time we had walked up 'that' hill, we looked like we had walked from home!!.. our room wasnt ready, but the young lady in attendance apologised and gave us a time for check in, this was 3 ish, so that wasnt too bad.. we had a drink at the bar, and we were able to put our luggage away safely so we didnt have to trail it around the town/shops etc.... check in was smooth and without problems, its cash only though, so be aware of that..it does state that on reviews and on the online website we used to book the hotel... the bar area is nice, has some comfy sofas, and is quite traditional... we were shown to our family room..double bed and one single, with wardrobe, chest of drawers and a dressing table.. also a large, comfy chair.. bathroom consisted of shower, sink with mirror and toilet....the bathroom was ok, it was a little dated, and some minor cosmetic repairs were needed to the bathroom door... it was evident the owners had made efforts to bring the bedroom up to date with throws and luxurious cushions...the tv worked, you didnt have to spend an hour tuning it in.. there were plenty of lighting options so you could have one half of the room dim whilst the other lit, quite useful when you have children.... the room was very clean, lovely fresh crisp bedding etc.. and to me, cleanliness is one of the most important things to consider........we had only one real problem with the room, we couldnt on leaving for the evening make the door lock!! it was a traditional key and lock and was very termperamental... we contacted reception, they were very apologetic and rectified the problem for us... there is a lovely outdoor area with what looked to be new seating.. had it been summer, this would have been great for enjoying a drink outside........free wifi also available on the ground floor....
breakfast was absolutely fine.. piping hot english breakfast, the coffee was fresh and strong, and the service quick.. the cereals were 'branded' not cheap alternatives poured into a plastic storage container, so you knew what you were eating..
the hotel on our visit did not smell, the staff were very welcoming and the one problem we encountered was dealt with efficiently and with many apologies!!!...
overall, maybe an update is needed, however, you can see that some improvements to the decor have been made recently.. for instance the dining room was really nice..new flooring and decor, new dining tables and chairs and lovely modern crockery... refitting hotels is costly and its probable that the owners can not afford to undertake such a project all at once, so it could be it is being done in stages...
please dont be too put off by some of the previous reviews.. it really is about personal experiences, and our experience was good.. i would stay here again, but it being at the very top of Steep Hill does put me off.. that is really the only thing that would prevent me staying...if you have a car, great..the hill wont be an issue....the hotel also has a nice, large carpark...we didnt use the in house restaurant for our meal in the evening as wanted to go into the town....
we payed, for 3 people, 75.00 with breakfast.. that was not direct through the hotel though, but through a website..our group was one adult and two teenagers... hope this has been useful xx

The rooms were clean, beds furnished well and very comfortable. Breakfast good. It is a 300 year building by all accounts, traditional, so some of the 5 star hotels will definitely have an edge. But if you want clean, friendly and a central location this is the place. We attended a Roundtable ball at the Lawns, only a 5 min walk away, saved on the hassle of a taxi. I would book again for our next trip to Lincoln.