Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Nestor’s puzzles are always good, and I doubt that this was an exception, but for some reason I couldn’t really get any momentum going here. … Read more >>

Unusual puzzle. Got almost nothing on first run through. Then with three crossing letters saw what 8 was likely to be. After that made quite good progress, until getting badly stuck on 9. … Read more >>

Solving time, 22 mins * = anagram 1 PAWN BROKE R & lit My last answer and my favourite clue 6 (D)(AVID) 9 ASPIRES Dreaming spires of Oxford 10 TO WARDS 13 DISORDERLINESS … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Top clueing from Dac as always. Perhaps a little tougher than is usual for a Wednesday, but it might be just me being slower than … Read more >>

I struggled with yesterday’s puzzle, so was glad that this was easier to get into and finish. I can’t claim a 100% score though as I plumped for an incorrect guess at 23A. … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def I had a torrid time with this. I missed the pub theme completely because I thought that 23 and 11 related to the answers in … Read more >>

Good Phi puzzle as always, solving time 21 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 MUS(t) I C Definition: notes 4 BAGUETTES (Bet a guest)* 9 S (A RACE) N Sn … Read more >>

This was a Cocker-knee rhyming slang special. I ‘ad t’scratch me old loaf a bit to solve this one. There were a good sprinkling of relatively easy clues for a saturday to get … Read more >>

I found this one a pretty stiff challenge, but that may simply be because when I see that the setter is Scorpion I tend to panic a little. The wordplay is complex, but … Read more >>

Solving time, 17 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 F (LE AB) AG     able-bodied seaman 5 S (A BIN)E    Ancient people in Italy 8 I BEG YOUR PARDON   (brooder guy … Read more >>

A little tougher than usual for Dac today I thought, but great stuff as ever. Across 1 PARADE – “RAID” on P.A 4 CHAIRMAN – C(onservative),HAIR MAN (barber!) 9 LAVISH – LAV-ISH, ‘John’ … Read more >>

As almost always with Virgilius, a beautiful production with an original and enjoyable theme. I think it’s simply 13dn, with 19dn, 5dn and 2dn appearing in the grid, and many of the answers … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def An enjoyable puzzle which was just challenging enough for a Monday morning. The only one I didn’t follow was 20 down, which still doesn’t make … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A very quick solve indeed, although I had to think about a couple of them, and ANTONINE was new to me (to my shame, given … Read more >>

Solving time: 30 mins I got on better with this than the previous Tyrus puzzles. Unless I’m being dense there’s no really strong theme. I can’t quite explain 2D. Across 1 HIGH = … Read more >>