York S& B 2025 by Exit – Fifteensquared

Exit’s puzzle for the York S&B can be found here .

This was a fairly straightforward solving experience with no unusual words and some nice surfaces.

We think there may be a theme based on ways of getting about on foot, as highlighted. Perhaps Exit will come by to elucidate?

picture of the completed grid

ACROSS

1. Severely criticise lawyer about artist brought back in police vehicle (5,3)

PANDA CAR

PAN (severely criticise) DA (District Attorney – ‘lawyer’) C (circa – ‘about’) + a reversal (‘brought back’) of RA (artist)

5. Wizard ceramicist (6)

POTTER

Double definition

10. Beethoven’s aunt: “Eroica includes a slow procession?” (7)

SAUNTER

Hidden (‘includes’) in Beethoven’S AUNT ERoica

11. Panama, say, is so welcoming to Frenchman (7)

ISTHMUS

IS THUS (so) round or ‘welcoming’ M (Monsieur – ‘Frenchman’)

12. Seaside feature for fellows with paddles occasionally (9)

PROMENADE

PRO (for) MEN (fellows) pAdDlEs (alternate or ‘occasional’ letters)

13. Piece heard after dark (5)

NIGHT

A homophone (‘heard’) of KNIGHT (‘piece’ in chess)

15. Origin of jumper presented to former PM on vacation (5)

ROOTS

ROO (kangaroo – ‘jumper’) + T~~rus~~S (former PM) missing the middle letters or ‘on vacation’

16. Angle on apartment – brill? (8)

FLATFISH

FISH (angle) after or ‘on’ FLAT (apartment)

19. Tune’s tempo – information for high-fliers? (8)

AIRSPEED

AIR (tune) SPEED (tempo)

20. Traditional knowledge about current in river (5)

LOIRE

LORE (traditional knowledge) round I (current)

21. Position of America after plot topples Trump at last (5)

LOTUS

US (America) after pLOT with the ‘p’ (last letter in Trump) missing or ‘toppled’

23. Go away, Jude – Juliet’s gone, that’s a blessing! (9)

BEATITUDE

BEAT IT (go away) jUDE missing the ‘j’ (Juliet in the phonetic alphabet)

25. Captivate half that area (7)

ATTRACT

thAT missing two letters (‘half’) TRACT (area)

27. 80% of table ruined by insect? The answer’s obvious! (7)

BLATANT

An anagram (‘ruined’) of 80% (4 letters out of 5) of TABLe + ANT (insect)

28. Small charge about right for a ramble (6)

STROLL

S (small) TOLL (charge) round R (right)

29. Honour, not dated, for clergyman (8)

REVEREND

REVERE (honour) ND (not dated)

DOWN

1. Secretary’s exercise, perhaps, getting travel document (8)

PASSPORT

PA’S (secretary’s) SPORT (exercise perhaps)

2. Dishevelled lout ignores nerve specialist (11)

NEUROLOGIST

An anagram (‘dishevelled’) of LOUT IGNORES

3. Spacey essentially locks players‘ … (9)

ACTRESSES

SpACey (middle or essential’ letters) TRESSES (locks)

4. … entrances at Theatre Royal in Aldershot initially (5)

ATRIA

First or ‘initial’ letters of At Theatre Royal In Aldershot

6. Frequently decimal? (5)

OFTEN

Double definition

7. Cat detained by Customs (3)

TOM

Hidden (‘detained by’) in cusTOMs

8. Squire’s ethic covers change of password for example (5)

RESET

Hidden (‘covered by’) squiRE’S EThic

9. “Naïve dry” produced here? (8)

VINEYARD

An anagram (‘produced’) of NAIVE DRY

14. Dictator’s witticism: “Cute Ali vandalised sign” (11)

GESTICULATE

A homophone (‘dictator’s’) of JEST (witticism) + an anagram (‘vandalised’) of CUTE ALI

16. Run around a bit, not much (8)

FLEABITE

FLEE (run) around A BIT

17. Denounce futile Nam riots (9)

FULMINATE

An anagram (‘riots’) of FUTILE NAM

18. Loathed trial in action (8)

DETESTED

TEST (trial) in DEED (action)

21. Earnestly requests cutting pressure takes priority (5)

LEADS

pLEADS (earnestly requests) missing or ‘cutting’ ‘p’ (power)

22. Poles trouble slow mover (5)

SNAIL

S N (south and north – ‘poles’) AIL (trouble)

24. Bet losing a grand – go easy, maybe (5)

AMBLE

gAMBLE (bet) missing or ‘losing’ ‘g’ (grand)

26. Sailor’s horoscope uncovered? (3)

TAR

sTARs (horoscope) missing first and last letters or ‘uncovered’

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