Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.

Cryptic clues

ACROSS

1 Quietly clear off with bundle (6) 4 Win a gin cocktail (4) 7 College of note, possibly (4) 8 Some drinks, including the first stout (6) 9 Porridge for a flyer (4) 10 Harsh German is on edge (4) 12 It grows in the street (4) 14 Amazement in a drawer (3) 16 Ruin’s remarkable interior (3) 17 Faded bucket, say (4) 20 Honest old writer (4) 23 Eric ordered some food (4) 24 Note stair gets fixed for nothing (6) 25 Creature in another nest (4) 26 Started with a cake (4) 27 Steps that may be taken (6)

DOWN

1 City for cavorting pairs (5) 2 Damn vermin (4) 3 Pledged to get a shelf (5) 4 Big excursion round old desert (4) 5 Beast has article to mail off (6) 6 Uncovered with force of elbow (5) 11 Authentic sort of earl (4) 13 Mature pier design (4) 15 Retailer sounds more disgusting (6) 16 Earn a new remit (5) 18 Messenger joins a new set (5) 19 Exchange roles with no-hoper (5) 21 Forward in expertise (4) 22 Horse disturbing dust (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror

Quick clues

ACROSS

1 Package (6) 4 Profit (4) 7 Public school (4) 8 Plump (6) 9 Hawk or dove, eg (4) 10 Severe (4) 12 Large shrub (4) 14 Wonder (3) 16 Spoil (3) 17 Colourless (4) 20 Unwrap (4) 23 Cereal crop (4) 24 Free (6) 25 Sea eagle (4) 26 Flan (4) 27 Climbing equipment (6)

DOWN

1 European capital (5) 2 Rodents (4) 3 Sill (5) 4 Asian desert (4) 5 Creature (6) 6 Shove (5) 11 Genuine (4) 13 Ready to eat (4) 15 Shopkeeper (6) 16 Deserve (5) 18 Heavenly being (5) 19 Defeated contestant (5) 21 Saucy (4) 22 Metal fastener (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror