I got what I'd expect from a 'boutique' style hotel at roughly the same price as a travel lodge - a beautiful old building, a big comfy room (sofa, arm chair, balcony and beds), but it's clearly not got the level of investment required to look modern and spotless in a Victorian building.
I definitely didn't experience any of the horror stories some of the reviews talk about - the beds were soft, the bedding and towels clean, the air con worked, the lift worked, and there's a safe in the room if I were concerned for security (not that I was given any reason to be).
I think it might be a victim of overselling itself - the breakfast was a simple self serve buffet with only 1 hot option (hard boiled eggs), and describing it as 4-star boutique may counjour images of spas and gourmet food.
If you want a base to stay at with a lot more character than a chain hotel, for a similar price, in a good location you shouldn't go wrong.
If you want somewhere to spend your days in luxury you'll need to spend more, if you want spotlessness at the price you'll need a chain with rooms designed to be maintained with minimal work.