Independent Cryptic #11241

2022-10-22

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Decrease salary, with cut for a division of Human Resources (4,3)

5a

Lover of Cleopatra many, at first, love to hate? (7)

9a

Historic performance includes a couple of songs (5,6)

10a

Move the heart of Freddie Mercury, for one (3)

11a

Briefly, a Parisian hotspot cooked no red meat (5-4)

flowerflowerflower
12a

Driving test starts to exhaust learner, making stop along the way (5)

13a

Mobile homes where one may retire young (5)

15a

Spell words wrong here, with typos (3,6)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Drunk trades hands, having drained eggnogs, and slumps (9)

19a

Sting's opening for Simon & Garfunkel, maybe after millions (5)

20a

European has the final word about pipe cleaner (5)

22a

Prize led school astray (4,5)

flowerflowerflower
24a

'Bucket', etc, translated right twice by one typing (3)

25a

Old man takes drug when heading to adult parties extremely late (4,2,1,4)

26a

Some depressing drinkers (7)

27a

Impressed by pieces, say, editor undertook (7)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

My bad review of successful chiropractic treatment (1,5,9)

2d

'Under Control' playing (a bit of a racket) (2,1,6)

3d

Harry Kane describing length: 'It's just over a foot' (5)

4d

More than one batted, opening with 50, leading test series (9)

5d

United take a penalty (5)

6d

Washing lines reportedly fastened with tags (9)

7d

Time Out is almost close to debt (5)

8d

'R' for 'run-of-the-mill' (6-2-3-4)

14d

Asked out on dates, the French flee (9)

16d

I'm in Journey's End, The Sixth Sense and Rent (3,6)

17d

Single men barred from orgy, catching flogger's interest in passing (9)

21d

Hesitate over rejecting a bachelor's joint (5)

22d

Timeless card game is trying (5)

23d

Ranch dressing leaves punters discontented (5)