CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

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Across

1. Bar is initially having to stock large issue (7) 5. Stock extremely mediocre bunch of flowers (6) 9. Charles’s painter impressed a royal German mostly (7) 10. Right and left enclosed in diamonds (7) 11. Prince dreads losing regulars (3) 12. Cannery uses fluid that’s not required (11) 13. Former Ottoman leader’s civilian dress (5) 14. Support new chief brought in for second time in station (9) 16. A bar got annoyed about very empty vessel on table (5,4) 17. A northerner’s racing venue (5) 19. Frank’s ideas about one writer receiving fine (5-6) 22. Setter’s beginning to patronise unruly youngster (3) 23. Exploit is in vain after leader goes off (7) 24. Former soldiers surround West End radical (7) 26. Niche holiday (6) 27. Lady of rank starts to dress up game (7)

Down

1. Bunyan’s hero, devout student, dour (7) 2. Guide forbids march round island to see colourful flyers (5,2,8) 3. Hostility that is enveloping Conservative (3) 4. Composer hadn’t lost tempo around end of symphony (5) 5. Disinclined to rave about cryptic clue, first of two (9) 6. Prepares to fire piles of hay (5) 7. Canned Irishman scrambled European language (8,7) 8. Extent of knowledge about any suspect Nairobi local (6) 12. Make one bun if you’re eating it (5) 14. Breaking tension, work quietly to obtain latest news (4,5) 15. Part of cycle range (5) 16. Chalky stuff’s unique selling point raised during PE (6) 18. Headgear for executioners? (7) 20. Green resident wastes time (5) 21. Work requirement, by the sound of it (5) 25. Twitch every now and then (3)