Independent 10,596 by Vigo
An enjoyable and conventional puzzle from Vigo which was generally at the easier end of the spectrum. I quite liked the misdirection in 1 across where most solvers would instantly assume two pints … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,593 by ZAMORCA
ZAMORCA kicks off the week… A lovely puzzle this, and a pangram too, which helped me out with the X in my LOI, 20 and 23. Plenty of good clues, with 27 being … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,250 by Pan
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28250. A fine puzzle, I would say a notch more difficult than many Monday offerings, but none the worse for that. ACROSS 1 EPITOME Brief extract from … Read more >>
Everyman 3,858/20 September
Another pleasing Sunday puzzle from Everyman, with the usual features: the ‘primarily’ clue, the paired long rhyming couplet, and the Grauniad misprint to confuse newer solvers. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1596 Hoskins
Thanks Hoskins for an enjoyable one. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 7. Rubbish people working away at Oxford? (8) COBBLERS : Double defn: 1st: … in slang; and 2nd: Cryptically, those … Read more >>
Azed 2519
I was close to giving this up as unfinished, thanks to a mistaken entry at 29a, but managed to recover. The time I spent on that has rather obscured my memory of the … Read more >>
Independent 10,595 by Dutch
I always seem to get on well with the Dutch – with the exception of their driving habits. What sort of crossword will be served up? Fries and mayonnaise, or should it be … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 28,243 by Philistine
More delightful cluemanship on display in this week’s puzzle in what used to be the prize slot. It’s always a pleasure to see Philistine’s name on a puzzle, and this one didn’t disappoint. … Read more >>
Independent 10,594 / Phi
Friday is Phi-day, and here he is with his latest puzzle. This was a medium-difficulty puzzle on an unusual grid, one that incorporates a larger number of longer entries. I haven’t spotted any … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,248 by Nutmeg
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28248. Mostly on the simpler side – for a Nutmeg – but with a couple of definitely tricky parses. In all beautifully crafted. ACROSS 1 WARTHOG Wild … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,591 by BRADMAN
A typical Friday BRADMAN challenge. Thanks Don. FF: 8 DD : 7 ACROSS 1 TERMINAL Time to acquire Zola’s work, ignoring the beginning and the end (8) T ( time ) gERMINAL … Read more >>
Guardian 28,247 / Qaos
Well, this should have been the last day of my walking holiday in Mallorca but finding the name of one of my favourite setters above the puzzle I was down to blog went … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,590 by GOLIATH
A pangrammatic puzzle from Goliath in today's FT. When I looked at the clue to 1 across, my heart sank as it looked really contrived at first glance. I worked my way through … Read more >>
Independent 10593 / Hob
Hob provides the Independent puzzle challenge today. This puzzle is a celebration of the 75th birthday today of JOHN RUTTER, a composer whose works focus on pieces for choirs (SINGERS) … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1452: Bridges by X-Type
Hello and welcome to you all, with a special welcome if you are a new solver who has been tempted to dip your toes into the wonderful world of the EV. The water … Read more >>