Across
Orderly snubbed close to end of shift (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
NEAR without the last letter [snubbed] + T.
Suits Palace and takes over the side (10)
Gives up and retires (5,2)
Sort of girl men bug (7)
America led by unnoble sort these days (6,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
COMMONER [unnoble sort] + A. I couldn’t possibly comment.
Bring port round at 19:30? (5)
Basque place without French beans? I mostly ate nuts (3,9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SANS [the French word for without] + (BEANS I AT)*. Not sure why but I did have a little chuckle at this surface.
Succeed fitting stiff in grave? (7,5)
Seb Coe, ignoring cold, running with thick protective layer? (5)
Balance cue, keeping focus on black (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
REMINDER around A [focus on, i.e. the middle letter of, BLACK]. The w/p is a bit stretchy for the A, but another fine surface.
Consultants finally improve the look of new business (5-2)
Sound made by nail penetrating box (7)
Tax worker avoids crucial task (6,4)
Watering hole opening late in current circumstances (2,2)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
(O)ASIS.
Down
No aid for golfer carrying bag around — that takes money (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
NO + TEE [aid for golfer] outside [carrying] a reversal [around] of SAC.
Unpleasant atmosphere? My aircon's bust (8)
Former head of Unilever plugs Lynx no longer (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
This is Yoda speak of ONCE around U. Puzzling a little over the definition, the following is from Wiki as an example of false-splitting “Old French lonce (lynx) was taken for l’once thus giving rise to once (hence English ounce)”. Think napron and apron; newt and ewt. Seems likely.
Caribbean music artist controlling urge to record standing on head (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
RA around EGG [urge] + reversal of NOTE [record]. My first vaguely heard of. Not the same as reggae. It originated in Panama and Puerto Rica in the 80’s/90’s (rather than Jamaica in the 60’s). Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” is a well known example, whilst Bad Bunny is one of its greatest exponents.
Mike Brown, rogue Conservative MP, again admits plan to discredit opposition? (5,8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
More Yoda speak. M [from the NATO phonetic alphabet] is surrounded by [admits] SEAR [brown] + (C MP AGAIN)*. Another of those clues which one is more likely to biff, but you have to tip your cap to the setter when you work it out afterwards, especially as there was a Tory MP called Michael Brown who was not apparently immune to some headlines. (Other MPs/parties available).
Bar unending permits for small arms (6)
Older central sections of museum painted maize yellow (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SE + N + I and then OR for yellow.
Fine journalist entering area around NY museum shows alarm (5,8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
OK + ED inside [entering] SECTOR around MET. A double containment clue.
Husband is enthralled by spinning trapdoor spider? (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
H inside (TRAPDOOR)*. My second vaguely heard of.
Spooner's father wagers sums he won't see again (3,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A Spoonerism of DAD BETS. I am quite partial to a Spoonerism and this was hopefully a fairly gentle one for those who freeze when they see them.
Fully confident ecstasy's consumed in much reduced quantity (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
E inside FAR LESS.
Pretentious type upside-down next to sloth in small tree (6)
One inclined to accept eco-friendly car to overhaul (6)
Inspection of car seat regularly part of service (5)
Type letters or click words in the clue