Independent on Sunday 1,355 by Raich

A characteristically accessible yet enjoyable puzzle, as we’ve come to expect from Raich, perfectly paced for the IoS.

I learned a few bits and bobs too, which is nice. Favourite clue was perhaps 23 across for its superb surface reading, and wordplay that took a bit of teasing out.

Good stuff, and thanks once again to Raich.

Across
1	CHAISE	Hot drink is brought to European carriage (6)
		CHA + IS + E. I wasn’t certain that I’ve heard of this type of carriage, but the wordplay was nice and clear.
4	GO PLACES	Republicans beat Democrats ultimately and succeed (2,6)
		GOP + LACE + [democrat]S.
9	AGREED	Regularly visited Algarve with journalist? Yes (6)
		A[l]G[a]R[v]E + ED.
10	DETAINEE	In canteen I ate daily on return, being confined (8)
		Hidden in [cant]EEN I ATE D[aily], reversed.
11	SHIP OF THE DESERT	One with hump as these hopes drift sadly? (4,2,3,6)
		Anagram of (THESE HOPES DRIFT), and another term for a camel.
13	PREHISTORY	No contemporary writing about this period (10)
		I think this is a cryptic definition, though to be honest I can’t spot quite what’s cryptic about it. No doubt somebody will set me straight.
14	NEON	Refusal in Paris to make case for English element (4)
		E in NON.
16	TYRO	Novice lodged in city rooms (4)
		Hidden in [ci]TY RO[oms].
18	VETERAN CAR	Old vehicle – van caterer refurbished (7,3)
		Anagram of (VAN CATERER).
21	INTERVENTIONIST	Abroad, note invite isn’t primarily required by him? (15)
		Anagram of (NOTE INVITE ISNT + R[equired]).
23	TAILGATE	Soldiers smuggling gun into French island drive dangerously (8)
		TA + (GAT in ILE).
24	LIABLE	51 up to it and legally answerable (6)
		LI + ABLE.
25	CREATURE	Living being, rare, cute, evolving (8)
		Anagram of (RARE CUTE).
26	DEGREE	Award daughter, for one, always rejected (6)
		D + EG + reversal of E‘ER.
Down
1	CLASS	School group of excellent quality (5)
		Two definitions.
2	AIRSIDE	Digression about Irish in part of Heathrow? (7)
		IR in ASIDE.
3	STEP ON IT	Set point in play! Hurry up! (4,2,2)
		Anagram of (SET POINT).
5	OVEREARNEST	Verse, art, one translated – excessively serious (11)
		Anagram of (VERSE ART ONE).
6	LEADEN	Gloomy lair at bottom of field (6)
		LEA + DEN.
7	CONCEDE	Prisoner beginning, we hear, to accept defeat (7)
		CON + homophone of “seed”.
8	SWEETENER	Irregular payment of small figure in London area? Right (9)
		(WEE + TEN) in (SE + R.
12	TO THE LETTER	How rent is paid adhering to every detail (2,3,6)
		Two definitions.
13	PATRIOTIC	Liking country film about a threesome, titillating initially (9)
		(A TRIO + T[itillating]) in PIC.
15	JACOBITE	“Yes” in German firm to snack for rebel (8)
		JA + CO + BITE.
17	RATLINE	Nautical equipment sailor brought up on course (7)
		TAR< + LINE. This sort of thing.
19	CLIMBER	Ivy perhaps, chilly at first, then flexible (7)
		C[hilly] + LIMBER.
20	BRIGHT	Clever Bishop supported by Conservative (6)
		B + RIGHT.
22	THEME	Recurring idea in article on Maine (5)
		THE + ME.

* = anagram; < = reversed; [] = removed; underlined = definition; Hover to expand abbreviations

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