Independent

Bannsider’s puzzles are consistently excellent and this was no exception. Funny grid though, with that blob of white squares in the middle. I’ve never read anything by Arnold Bennett so I have to … Read more >>

Well well, this was very nice! If Phi gets bumped from a Friday, there’s usually something afoot. For any newcomers (and, with any luck, there will be some), today is the 2nd anniversary … Read more >>

There’s a Nina/theme in this puzzle, which I refer to after the clue explanations.  Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 SERF  frees< less the central e 4 … Read more >>

Very easy, indeed, I thought – as fast as I’ve solved any Indy puzzle this year – but not solved correctly, thanks, Neal H. * = anagram 1 C (HEAP)O 5 TEST CASE … Read more >>

How is it possible, week after week, to say anything new about Dac? As always, the surfaces are elegant and smooth and there are no real points of contention, so far as I can … Read more >>

Anyone would think there was some sort of election happening today… Across 6 U in (WHINED BLATHERED)* – RED WHITE AND BLUE. 9 PALIN[-g] – got this from “candidate” (and the appearance of … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone Apologies for the late posting. I was too busy at work today to give this the two or three hours of attention I would have needed to get through … Read more >>

Apologies for the comparative lack of commentary – I’m a bit pushed for time today.  Great puzzle, as always from Nestor. Across 1 CH(I,N)ASE,A 6 alternate letters of sPaRsElY 11 A(DO)PTER 12 NAME,NIL … Read more >>

A typically nice crossword, but trickier than usual for Phi. Some long words were slow to come. Across 7 DOZE(n) 8 BOTTLENECK — I don’t really understand this — why wouldn’t you expect to find jam in … Read more >>

Explanations and clarifications needed for 1a, 8, 12, 13, 19 and 26. Across 1 GOLF WIDOWS – can’t make head or tail of this, beyond some sort of pun on “putting”: “In small … Read more >>

I found this quite easy, solving time, 14 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 M (ODIC) UM odic = of poetry 5 A MAL(e) G AM 9 TOTE M 10 … Read more >>

Excellent, accessible, puzzle by Dac, as ever. Solving time, 14 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 MAOIST Very good with seamless join at old time/communist O (old) in Siam< t … Read more >>

Hi all, Apologies for the short notice, but I’m laid up with a bad cold and am unlikely to be fit for blogging today. If anybody can step in, I’d be much obliged. … Read more >>

A puzzle in Eimi’s very individual style, which I found quite easy – solving time, 15 mins.   Quite a few references in clues that I was not personally familiar with, but these did … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone An enjoyable puzzle with nothing very controversial. Only one clue I didn’t entirely follow (19 down). Across 1 Toll: To L[iverpoo]l. 3 Able Seaman: (Same banal)* around e. 9 … Read more >>