Independent

Another excellent themed puzzle by Virgilius with almost every answer or clue having some reference to birds.   Solving time, 21 mins. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 BEEFEATER    Refers to the … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed An excellent puzzle with very smooth surface readings and not too much trickery, although the precise meaning of one or two did escape me. Across 1 Sleep out: Spout about … Read more >>

An elegant puzzle by Phi – solving time 17 mins.    A theme/Nina to it, which I refer to after the clue explanations. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 P (L) ACES … Read more >>

Another very tough but very satisfying Saturday puzzle, this time from Nestor. Lots of great stuff here but I can’t work out the wordplay in 3, 15 and 17. I filled in 11 … Read more >>

I solved this online last night and haven’t seen the paper today, so not sure of the setter I’m afraid. There’s an interesting, entertaining mix of clues – some easy, some harder and … Read more >>

Solving time, 17 mins * = anagram ACROSS 6 ENGLISH DISEASE (See his dealings)* 9 CHAR (LAD) Y 10 R (right) O (old) PIER 11 ORA C(L) E Last letter of oral in … Read more >>

As usual an apparently perfect crossword from Dac — nothing remotely controversial, strong anagrams, sound clues with good surfaces. How he does it week after week I just don’t know. Across 1 RUMP … Read more >>

I found this mostly reasonably easy but with a few tough spots here and there. I only spotted the Nina (in the perimeter running clockwise from the bottom left-hand corner) once I’d finished … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed A varied puzzle with some interesting clues, including one or two I didn’t fully understand. Across 7 Goal: I think this is gal around o, indicating hungry in an extremely … Read more >>

Typical Phi crossword in which everything stacks up.   Solving time, 16 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 LES (MISERABLE) S    By Victor Hugo 8 COD A   Musical term for end … Read more >>

Another superb puzzle from Bannsider with some very original and rigourous clueing. Very tough too, but always a pleasure to solve. Across 1 (PRAYER THAT)* – ART THERAPY. Great clue with an excellent … Read more >>

Something of a rarity for me: a Nimrod puzzle where I understand every clue! Across 1 (FILM DUO AT)* in SIGHT – STADIUM OF LIGHT. Quite a tricky one to parse: “originally directing” … Read more >>

Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 COME TO LIGHT     Definition: be revealed  Moths seek the light 7 A MASS  Mass is another Indy setter 8 COUNT LESS … Read more >>

The usual excellent crossword from Dac, hard enough (it took a while to get started), but not too hard. Everything, apart from one answer, went in slowly but regularly. Across 1 MALAGA — … Read more >>

This was a belter of a puzzle, with every clue containing the word ‘number’. The fact that this word can be interepreted in, ahem, a number of different ways (quantity, music, anaesthetic, etc.), … Read more >>