Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS 1 End has strange lustre (6) 4 Discard outhouse (4) 7 Groped around for fastener (4) 8 Quiet lift gets commendation (6) 9 Song from Marianne (4) 10 Queen in banner (4) 12 Reportedly regretted being discourteous (4) 14 Caesar’s Palace features mineral spring (3) 16 Attach secret number (3) 17 Tax is an obligation (4) 20 Loot spent on utensil (4) 23 Like a family (4) 24 Colour makes church ascend (6) 25 Sure to use trick (4) 26 Draws around the neck (4) 27 Don’t start chat on baby’s toy (6) DOWN 1 Quick to knock with papers (5) 2 Cleaner sort of opera (4) 3 Pace rated incorrectly (5) 4 Betting on a new bridge (4) 5 Yes, her strange, unorthodox belief (6) 6 Attorney takes sheep to see play (5) 11 Unfortunately sent home (4) 13 Loosen at a French party (4) 15 Complete space with flag (6) 16 Growth at factory (5) 18 Cruel sort of complaint (5) 19 Article with yours truly as subject (5) 21 Burden we bear (4) 22 Flavouring that makes money (4)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS 1 Outcome (6) 4 Shack (4) 7 Cord (4) 8 Extol (6) 9 Operatic solo (4) 10 Woman’s name (4) 12 Impolite (4) 14 Health resort (3) 16 Sewing implement (3) 17 Chore (4) 20 Implement (4) 23 Similar (4) 24 Shade of red (6) 25 Stratagem (4) 26 Binds (4) 27 Jangle (6) DOWN 1 Fast (5) 2 Lathering bar (4) 3 Step (5) 4 Duration (4) 5 Blasphemy (6) 6 Style of theatre (5) 11 Bird’s structure (4) 13 Reverse (4) 15 Whole (6) 16 Organism (5) 18 Painful affliction (5) 19 Topic (5) 21 Responsibility (4) 22 Herb (4)