Across
Sweet, intoxicating drink? Try fizzy cola first (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
POP (as in “have a pop at it” = try, as a noun = an attempt), with an anagram (fizzy) of COLA first. A mixed alcoholic drink with fruit juice, sugar, flavourings and/or colourings: it looks like “fizzy pop” but may well be stronger than beer.
Small cars no-go area encompassing eastern city (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
S (abbreviation for small) + WA [go] NS (without GO) + A (abbreviation for area), around E (abbreviation for eastern). City in south Wales.
27a
(and 27 Across) Faceless ones traditionally invoked by polite ceremony (5,7)
Old tribesman's alternative realities (9)
Extend reorganisation of the Court's time (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram (reorganisation) of THE COURT’S + T (abbreviation for time).
Split bit (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Double definition. To leave, or (of two people or entities) to go in different directions; or a small section of a larger whole.
Companion attending king is peerless - the woman's a saint (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
CH (abbreviation for Companion of Honour) + R (abbreviation for Latin Rex = King) + IS + TOP (peerless = excellent) + HER (the woman’s = belonging to a specific woman). St Christopher, traditionally the patron saint of travellers.
Initially guys rather like, perhaps, girl in M&S jumper (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Initial letters of G [uys] R [ather] + AS (rather like = similar to) + SHOPPER (for example a girl buying something in Marks and Spencer, often abbreviated to M&S). An insect that jumps.
Terrible gutless politician - her stay in office will be brief (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
T [erribl] E without the inner letters (gutless) + MP (abbreviation for Member of Parliament = politician). Short for “temporary worker”, and often applied to office staff employed on a short-term contract.
Maybe sinking ship off port at start of enemy action (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram (off) of PORT , then the starting letter of E [nemy] + DOING (action, as in “it was your doing” = you did it).
Parties essentially bother child: it's rejecting all outsiders, fully (2,3,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Middle letter (essentially) of [par] T [ies], then [b] OTHE [r] [c] HIL [d] [i] T [s] with all the outside letters dropped. As in “I’ll back you to the hilt” = I’ll support you fully.
It may commemorate dog (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Double definition. A pile of stones, which may be a marker for a burial site (or simply a place marker, for example on the summit of a hill); or short for “Cairn Terrier”, a breed of dog.
See 9 Across
Dash back, Carol - it's a sister's job (7)
Down
One task left unfinished by new presenter (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
A (one), then CHOR [e] (a dull uninteresting task) without the last letter (left unfinished) after N (abbreviation for new). The main presenter on a television programme, typically introducing guests and taking the lead in conversations.
Bloke Tess outwardly desires (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
COVE (bloke = slang for a man) + outer letters of T [es] S .
Brunel thus does about-turn in well-mannered debate about government, say (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
I (Brunel, our crossword setter), then SIC (Latin for “thus” = an editor’s mark indicating that an apparent error is to be read as printed) reversed (doing an about-turn); all contained in POLITE (well-mannered). Politicise = to talk about something in political terms.
It has to be paid, Katie (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Double definition. The cost that must be paid for something; or a reference to the TV personality Katie Price.
Makes neater by switching higher trees around (7,2)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
UP (higher, as in “fuel prices are up”) + SPRUCES (various species of tree), with a simple swap of the two words (switching around). It’s hard to think of a context in which the surface makes much sense, though.
The last word in Puma menswear (4)
Old heartthrob Distel embraces one boarding swanky car - spicy stuff! (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
SACHA (French romantic singer Sacha Distel = old heartthrob), containing I (one in Roman numerals) inserted into RR (abbreviation for Rolls-Royce = swanky car). Thai chilli sauce.
Opening time to be put back across country, Tory leader admitted (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ERA (time) reversed (put back), containing (across) PERU (a country), with the leading letter of T [ory] inserted (admitted).
Manager in 'Association' shattered old Cup record (2-8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram (shattered) of O (abbreviation for old) + CUP RECORD . The surface suggests a rather non-standard way of referring to “association football”, otherwise known as soccer or (in the UK) just football. One of two or more people working together (in association) to manage the production of a film, theatre show or similar.
Looter hid abandoned gemstone (9)
A Microsoft mogul overcomes computing worries (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
A + GATES (Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft), containing (overcoming) IT (abbreviation for information technology = computing). Worries, as a verb = agitates = distresses.
Better to lift second appliance inside cupboard, possibly (3,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
GAMESTER (someone who plays games, especially a gambler = better = someone who bets), with the S (abbreviation for second) moved a couple of places towards the start (towards the top, in a down clue = lifted). Device for measuring gas usage, typically installed in a cupboard indoors or in a small cabinet on the outside of a building.
I must replace last of cycling apparel (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BIKIN [g] (cycling), with I replacing the last letter. For once “cycling” is being used literally and not as a “shuffle the letters round in a loop” indicator.
Having gone outside, Girl Guides knocked back drink (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
GG (abbreviation for Girl Guides) with GONE outside it, all reversed (knocked back). A drink made with eggs, milk and sugar, usually with alcohol added.
Head north in flat-bottomed vessel (5)
Fairy queen overwhelms Athenian character's heart (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ER (the late Queen Elizabeth II), replacing the middle letter (heart) of either P [h] I or P [s] I (Greek letters = Athenian characters). Old word for a fairy (as in the G&S comic opera Iolanthe, or The Peer and the Peri ). Perhaps an extended definition based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream , which features the King and Queen of the Fairies plus a company of assorted Athenians and some messing about with a love potion.
Type letters or click words in the clue