The website of The Snooty Fox in Morval, Looe, was spotted in August last year bearing the AA (Automobile Association) logo and the text “AA 4*”.

The issue was raised with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) by a complainant who did not believe the hotel had a four-star rating from the AA.

Although the hotel acknowledged the complaint, it did not submit a “substantive response” to the ASA’s enquiries, whereby the complaint was upheld.

“We considered consumers would understand from the inclusion of the AA logo and star rating in the ad that The Snooty Fox had received a four-star endorsement from the AA’s hotel rating scheme,” read the ASA ruling, which said the hotel must not use the ad again in the form complained about.

“The Snooty Fox did not provide any evidence they had received that endorsement and the AA did not list the hotel on its website or state it had awarded The Snooty Fox a four-star rating. We therefore concluded the ad was misleading.”