“Ten answers have been affected by an IT FEATURE and must be amended before entry in one of two ways. For the remaining clues, half contain a superfluous word which must be relocated into one of the clues in the other half before solving. Numbers in brackets refer to entry lengths. Letters in the four shaded cells can be arranged to provide an acronym of the IT FEATURE, which must be written in full below the grid. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended; two answers are abbreviations.”
Financial Times 16,531 by CHALMIE
What a treat from CHALMIE this Friday !! Thanks to setter for an absolute delight. FF: 10 DD: 9 ACROSS 1 ARBOURS Retreats without black jackets (7) bARBOURS (jackets, without B – black) … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,188 by Philistine
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28188. I must say that my first reaction on completing this puzzle was that it was a good workmanlike job, but on reflection, I see this an … Read more >>
Independent 10,534 by Hob
Not the usual Phi on Friday, so something special. You’ll have to wait to find out what. I enjoyed this, some nice clues, although some might object that more than a third of … Read more >>
Guardian 28,187 / Paul
It’s Paul setting the challenge this morning, after nearly two weeks’ absence. Here we have an entertaining puzzle, with a variety of clues, some a bit 27ac – but it’s Paul – and … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,530 by NEO
Neo provides this morning's FT puzzle On first reading through the clues, I was able to answer most of the left-hand side of the grid pretty quickly, but the right side eluded me … Read more >>
Independent 10,533 by Phi
Have we overslept by 24 hours? Phi on a Thursday? It’s been a strange week for us, with a hospital visit, a visit to the hairdresser for both of us and the first … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,520 by Mudd
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 4, 2020 This is a curious Mudd for me in that there is one clue that I am not sure I am parsing correctly. It … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,529 by JULIUS
Good fun as always. Thank you Julius. ACROSS 1. My bad, dodgy credit cards not accepting €? (1,5,9) I STAND CORRECTED anagram (dodgy) of CREDIT CARDS NOT containing E (Euro symbol) 9. Include … Read more >>
Independent 10,532 / Tees
Tees has provided his latest puzzle for our mid-week entertainment. I found this to be an enjoyable medium-difficulty puzzle and one whose solution revealed itself to me gradually: at no point did I … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,186 by Qaos
A fun challenge – my favourites were 4ac, 9ac, 15ac, and 4dn. Thanks to Qaos… …there is a theme around SPINAL TAP, a fictional band from the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap [wiki] … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1654: Spot the Difference by Artix
A long complex rubric with a coda by the editor. The solutions to both grids are identical except for the three pairs of thematic entries in the silver cells; other down answers may … Read more >>
Guardian 28,185 – Pasquale
Pasquale in gentle mood today, with almost no obscurities (for me, anyway: others may disagree). Mostly very straightforward clueing, with a couple of devices that have been round the block a few times. … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,528 by SLORMGORM
A good Tuesday challenge with wit and some ingenuity. Some head-scratching required but nothing to complain of and some quiet chuckles as well. Thanks, Slormgorm. ACROSS 1 FAMISHED Starving religious sect saved by … Read more >>
Independent 10531 / Skinny
Skinny provides the Tuesday challenge. Ah! I thought; this grid will have a message round the outside. Wrong! There was a theme though which I spotted towards the end of … Read more >>