Smooth sailing today.
Nothing too far out and had to check the dictionary only once to confirm 24d which I hadn’t come across before. Thanks to ARMONIE for the gentle yet entertaining puzzle.
All definitions in clues marked like this.
* anagram, + charade, – deletion, <- reversal, DD double definition, CD cryptic definition.
ACROSS
1 Note on an Anglican church shows style (8) ELEGANCE [note=E + on=LEG + AN + Anglican church=CE]
5 Bill can get girl for performance (6) ACTING [bill=AC + can=TIN + Girl]
9 Without doubt our beet’s cooked (2,2,4) TO BE SURE [OUR BEETS]*
10 Relic of saints wrapped in thin sheet (6) FOSSIL [saints=S S inside thin sheet=FOIL]
12 Sister to dash back to Kent (5) NURSE [dash=RUN<- + Home Counties/Kent=SE]
13 Nell swept off? That’s rewarding! (4-5) WELL-SPENT [NELL SWEPT]*
14 Mate’s attempt to be sorry (6) PALTRY [mate=PAL + attempt=TRY]
16 Descendent catches breath in Wiltshire (7) SWINDON [descendent=SON outside breath=WIND] Not a fan of defining places as ‘in somewhere else’
19 Book // store (7) RESERVE [DD]
21 European’s elegance (6) POLISH [DD]
23 Associate depression with class (9) COLLEAGUE [depression=COL + class=LEAGUE]
25 Shock the French retreating with detachment (5) ALARM [the French=LA<- + detachment=ARM]
26 Welcome popular tenor into contest (6) INVITE [popular=IN + Tenor inside contest=VIE]
27 Stop interfering in rightful compensation (8) REBUTTAL REQUITAL [stop=BUTT QUIT inside rightful=REAL] See comments below
28 Former partner’s wrong to blackmail (6) EXTORT [former partner=EX + wrong=TORT]
29 Godless individuals involved in robberies (8) ATHEISTS [involved in=AT + robberies=HEISTS]
DOWN
1 Reach outside shelter (6) EXTENT [outside=EX + shelter=TENT]
2 Bears arms recklessly to cause distress (9) EMBARRASS [BEARS ARMS]*
3 Porter keeps Isaiah in passageway (5) AISLE [porter=ALE outside ISaiah]
4 Coach’s gone to get condiment (7) CARAWAY [coach=CAR + gone=AWAY]
6 Winger to pass the ball over, gaining notice (9) CROSSBILL [pass the ball over=CROSS + notice=BILL]
7 An outlet for children (5) ISSUE [DD]
8 Georgia absorbs stimulant on tongue from food additive (8) GELATINE [GEorgia outside stimulant/drug=E + tongue=LATIN]
11 Charity relaxes first off (4) ALMS [relaxes=cALMS]
15 Persecutor fell upon guide (9) TORMENTOR [fell=TOR + guide=MENTOR]
17 Sect reads esoteric philosopher (9) DESCARTES [SECT READS]*
18 Carry on and scrape it off (8) PRACTISE [SCRAPE IT]*
20 Teddy starts to get youngster nervous (4) EDGY [teddy=ED + Get + Youngster]
21 Clergyman entering enclosed bar (7) PREVENT [clergyman=REV inside enclosed=PENT]
22 Shopping area aboard ship supplies underwear (6) SMALLS [shopping area=MALL inside ship=SS]
24 See vessel in shade (5) LOVAT [see=LO + vessel=VAT]
25 A lovely accent (5) ACUTE [A + lovely=CUTE]
Thanks Bhavan and Armonie.
I parsed 27ac as REQUITAL with Stop = Quit.
Turbolegs@1, that is much better than mine.
I too discarded butt and opted for quit. This was a good solid entertaining puzzle. Armonie used to smuggle in a musical reference in every puzzle — apart from a passing reference to tenor in this one he doesn’t seem to do it any more. Pity. Thanks, Armonie, and well done Bhavan for being such an early riser.
Hornbeam@3, thanks. Being down under helps getting the blog out early.
Bhavan@4, that explains it!
Thanks Armonie and Bhavan
Nice straightforward puzzle that took the train journey into work this morning. REQUITAL was my last one in after also initially writing ‘rebuttal’ and not being able to find a satisfactory parsing of it.
Was chuffed to remember the town of SWINDON from other crosswords.
Another for butt instead of quit, late to this but thanks both.