This is the prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 11
I found this Cincinnus a bit tougher than average and was stuck on 14D and 27A for a while.
Across
1. CLODHOPPER – anagram of OLD in CHOPPER. A favourite word of mine!
7. MESS – double definition
9. SNUB – BUNS reversed
10. EARLS COURT – anagram of RARE LOCUST
11. PASTIS – ASTI (Italian wine) in PS (second thoughts)
12. NEEDLING – NEED (want) + LING (fish)
13. POOH POOH – double definition
15. GLEE – hidden word
17. LAIR – [b]LAIR
19. TIPSTAFF – TIP (gratuity) + STAFF (employees). A tipstaff was an official such as a bailiff who carried a metal-tipped staff.
22. BALLETIC – anagram of A BILL ETC
23. SITARS – I[ndia] in STARS (leading players)
25. TARANTELLA – TAR (sailor) + ANT (social worker) + ELLA (girl)
26. ELMS – E (eastern) + LMS (railway once)
27. STAY – double definition. Think of guy as in guy wire.
28. ROY JENKINS – anagram of SKINNER JOY
Down
2. LONG AGO – anagram of LAGOON around G (midnight)
3. DEBUT – [mo]DE[rn] + BUT (except)
4. OVERSHOT – O (love) + VERS[e] (poems mostly) + HOT (torrid)
5. PARENTHETICALLY – PARENT (old man or old lady) + anagram of LILAC THEY
6. ROSIER – R (right) + OSIER (tree)
7. MOONLIGHT – double/cryptic definition
8. STRANGE – ST (stone) + RANGE (cooker)
14. HARDLY ANY – L (large) in HARDY (tough) + A (a) + NY (big city)
16. APOSTATE – A (a) + PO (post office) + STATE (say)
18. ADAMANT – hidden word
20. FIREMEN – double/cryptic definition
21. STATER – S (shilling) + TATER (potato). Had to look this one up.
24. TWEAK – T[able] + WEAK (needing reinforcement)