Across
Meal that’s emptied the seats in a restaurant (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BANQUET (a lavish meal) + T [h] E (emptied = middle letter removed). A padded bench seat, especially one built into the wall of a restaurant.
Belgium getting the wooden spoon? Darn! (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
B (abbreviation for Belgium) + LAST (getting the wooden spoon = a joke prize for a last-placed competitor). Those familiar with the work of Douglas Adams may appreciate the association of “Belgium” with swear-words, though I don’t know if that’s what Phi intended.
Fat? It’s enough to have one in tears (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Double definition. The fat of sea animals such as whales; or someone who blubs = cries. I don’t think “It’s enough to have” is part of either definition, though it seems rather a lot of link words.
Dreadful American importing tennis ace (7)
Presumptuous to include iron and carbon? It’s ideal (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
PERT (presumptuous = cheeky), including FE + C (chemical symbols for iron and carbon).
The worst and best incident in F1? (3,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
PITS (the pits = the worst) + TOP (best). Pit stop, in Formula 1 motor racing = a stop for refuelling or repairs in the middle of a race.
No sailor, in a blow, left university books (4-6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
L (left) + U (university) + B B (two B = book), all in LANDER (a heavy blow = hit or punch, which “lands” successfully where it is aimed). Seafarer’s word for someone who prefers to stay on solid ground.
Gold filling for male? It’s mouth-based (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
OR (heraldic term for gold) + inner letters (filling) of [m] AL [e].
Mine waste to give way, swallowing lake (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
SAG (to give way = collapse), containing L (abbreviation for lake). Coal dust and mineral waste from mining.
Tolerate police impounding boat when things are declining (4,6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BEAR (as a verb = tolerate) + MET (short for the Metropolitan Police in London), containing (impounding) ARK (boat). Bear market = the state of the stock market when people are selling shares in anticipation of a fall in value.
Uncertain Independent article - not exciting to take that in (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
I (abbreviation for Independent) + THE (definite article), taken in by DRY (tedious = not exciting).
Pressure on terminus still to come? (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
P (abbreviation for pressure) + ENDING (terminus).
Cause amusement in restricting river to be just a few drops (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
TICKLE (cause amusement in) containing R (abbreviation for river). Trickle = a very small or slow flow of liquid.
Removed permit to probe record of ownership (7)
Seasonal plant entirely ignored by women (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[w] HOLLY (entirely) without the W (women).
Despicable and lethal, cutting end of rope holding lead actor (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
D [e] ADLY (lethal), without the E which is the end letter of [rop]E, containing (holding) STAR (lead actor).
Down
Live operation capturing British music genre (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BE (live, as a verb) + OP (short for operation), containing B (British). Jazz style from the 1940s.
Nuclear component in new German film set in computer game (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
NEU (“new” in German) + TRON (a film whose lead character enters the world of a computer game).
Wobbly bum - visitor upset after removing top and other cover (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram (wobbly) of BUM , then [c] ALLER (visitor) with its first letter (top) removed, reversed (upset = upwards in a down clue). I think “and other” is just filler.
Key line framed by English painter overlooking latest railway feature (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
TAB (key on a computer keyboard) + L (line), contained in (framed by) TURNE [r] (J M W Turner, English painter) without the last letter (latest). A mechanism for turning locomotives round so they can set off in a different direction.
Smart comment supporting team’s second kit (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
QUIP (smart comment) after (below, in a down clue = supporting) the second letter of [t] E [am]. Kit, as a verb = equip = to provide with equipment.
Air about to fill spa feature (6)
One supporting a chance to retire at the outset (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
A BET (a chance, as in “a good bet” = likely) + TO + first letter (at the outset) of R [etire].
High-level risk taker I employed in game plan (4,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
I inserted into (employed in) TEST (an international game in cricket, rugby etc) + PLOT (plan). Someone who tries out new aircraft, and is therefore doing a risky job high up in the air.
Husband abandoning that child’s distraught at the final moment (4-5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram (distraught) of T [h] AT CHILD’S with one H (abbreviation for husband) removed.
Source of classic drama: detective with regret upset over some days in Rome (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
PI (abbreviation for private investigator = detective) + RUE (regret), all reversed (upset = upwards in a down clue), then IDES (in the Roman calendar , either the 13th or 15th day of each month, therefore “some days” of the year). Ancient Greek playwright .
Extended morning taken up with elevating excellent flower (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
LONG (extended) + AM (morning), all reversed (taken up = upwards in a down clue), then AI (A1 = excellent) also reversed (elevating = upwards in a down clue).
A new difficulty besetting most of the colony (3-4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
A + N (new) + ILL (as a noun = difficulty, as in “a cure for every ill”), containing (besetting) TH [e] (most of = all but the last letter).
Knot adjusted without first being tied together? (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
KN (kn = ISO standard abbreviation for knot = a measure of speed at sea, though “kt” is used as the abbreviation in some contexts) + [f] ITTED (adjusted) without its first letter.
The writer’s stifling sound of surprise, beginning to laugh quietly (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
MY (the writer’s), containing (stifling) EEK (an interjection expressing surprise or fear) + beginning letter of L [augh].
Produce that is left in yard (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
IE (i.e. = abbreviation for Latin id est = that is) + L (left), inside YD (yd = abbreviation for yard).
Odd members of guild duly gutted with instability (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Odd-numbered letters from G [u] I [l] D , then D [ul] Y without its inner letters (gutted).
Type letters or click words in the clue