I read some of the previous comments before going to the hotel and was expecting the worse, I can only assume that because some of the comments were quite old that there has been a major improvement because our stay at this hotel was excellent from start to finish.
On our arrival we were shown to our suite, which was finished to a very high standard although one of the posts of the 4 poster bed did obsscure the view of the TV!, when we mentioned it the staff quickly arranged for our room to be swapped with no fuss - it wouldn't have been terrible to stay in our original room, just slightly annoying - wall bracket literally needs moving 12 inches to the left!
Our replacement suite if anything was even nicer, well worth the money and very comfortable throughout.
Can't review the food as the hotel is so central to Lincoln that we ended up exploring the local bars and restaurants for dining - of which Lincoln has plenty to go at.
Very close to the castle and cathedral and an ideal base for a stay in Lincoln.

Take one Victorian public sector building (I can't help but think 'mental asylum’), drop a load of antiques in and, somehow, get a hotel ratings organisation to bestow five stars and you end up with... a five star mental hospital with random antiques. The place still has the depressing, stale, ingrained smells of the municipal use it once hosted and the open pipe work and the tunnel-like corridors are straight from The Shining.

We booked one of their best rooms: ‘Deluxe Suite’ number 6, the Willis Suite. It was huge; it was the kind of multi-room area which a bride would relish whilst preparing for her big day. But she’ll probably look a little tired at the altar, not having slept much the night before. The suite is above the reception, so we had to put up with the phone ringing unanswered all night and lorries delivering from 5am: their tail lifts and screeching up and down when you’re trying to get the best bit of a night’s sleep.

And don’t expect to lay-in a little either. The hotel’s car park is run by Lincoln City Council and the overnight ticket (6pm – 8am; £2.20) means you need to get out there and buy a new day’s ticket promptly. The car park attendants turned up at 08.10 and 08.15 on the two mornings we were there so, whatever you do, don’t think ‘it’ll be alright’.

Maybe the Hotel has done something to help their residents out of this rude holiday awakening? As we checked in, the receptionist did offer us a pass for overnight parking. Same duration, 6pm – 8am, and a bargain at £5.00! Naturally, I declined politely.

It’s worth mentioning the bed in our suite. Absolutely enormous, wider than our Super-Kingsize at home and with good quality memory foam mattress and pillows. Brilliant, eh? Well, it was brilliant until we discovered that this super-sized bed had a regular King Size duvet so, unless you’re sleeping alone, you have no opportunity to make full use of the bed’s size as the duvet doesn’t match it. We actually ended up sleeping in a smaller area than we would at home. Such an own goal when they had spent so much on the expensive bits.

Don’t expect to be offered the five star extras like free wi-fi up front. Try logging on and you’ll be presented with a page demanding payment. You have to go to reception and specifically ask for a 24 hour login account.

Finally, there was little point complaining while we there as the place seems to be run entirely by disinterested children. I certainly did not see one person out of their teens at any point during my two night stay. And I will certainly take AA star-ratings with a massive pinch of salt from now on.

This hotel was booked on the net as we wished to stay in Lincoln and it was the only 5*.

Room OK "ish" but....no lift, no food (except breakfast) no room service, and no xxx , yyy, zzz expected from 5* or even 3*. Our judgement is that the hotel appears focused on the wedding market which they may do very well.

5* - NO WAY and frankly, having written to the AA they don't seem to care so I suggest travellers do not rely totally on their categories as we did.

Don't forget your primus stove if you want to eat in bad weather - apart from the "pub" and "Indian" about a 100 mtrs away.

Although the staff are very helpful and pleasant, this hotel represents poor value for money; it is shabby and outdated, with no facilities to warrant its supposed five stars.
The entrance is decidedly odd and the reception area reminded me of a school office. No fridge or mini bar in the room. Breakfast was very strange! The dining room is adjacent to the bar and the whole place had a sour smell of stale beer - not what you want at 8am! The Breakfast menu was limited with an odd assortment of dishes such as bagels with asparagus and tomatoes. My daughter ordered a cream cheese bagel, which was on the menu, but the waiter had no idea what she was talking about - then my other daughter asked for honey and was met with a blank stare, although it did eventually arrive, presumably when the waiter had discovered what it was.
I could go on, but you probably get the idea; this is not a five star
hotel.