CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Place to conduct or converse

ly to play guitar (7) 5 I blocked small pike in chan

nel (6) 9 Defenceless duramen chopped up (7) 10 As a rule American friend hugs you (7) 11 Beast of burden seen in Himalayas surely (3) 12 One of four you’ve had, one of whom maybe parted with name (11) 13 Irish rock star holds gallon drum (5) 14 I left maître d’ in topmost stretch of river (9) 16 Burst of fire: everyone is upset in nasty feud (9) 17 He explores seabed in Maldive Republic (5) 19 Curtail urge to reorganise farming (11) 22 He starts to flounce ostentatiously — poseur (3) 23 No end to hoping for analgesic (7) 24 It precedes 8 as hangover cure, that’s plain (7) 26 11 set up property (6) 27 Pointed rejoinder? (7)

DOWN

1 Dessert stewed by Mother

Hubbard using method (7) 2 It flies in US celebrities and controversial priests (5,3,7) 3 Irish raised money limit (3) 4 Press, TV, etc. picked up the

same article (5) 5 Stable white horse — it makes

a noise (5,4) 6 Flap of endless value moving about centre of mouth (5) 7 19 models in Russia gather

five rams possibly (10,5) 8 Funny story about eastern pearlcarrier (6) 12 Demon emerges from foul lough (5) 14 Front-page characters showing signs of worry? (9) 15 Woman with advantage in club (5) 16 Quarrel: father goes to arbitration service (6) 18 Around Spain stormy petrel has eaten plenty (7) 20 Chase 5 in trouble (5) 21 Drug’s no introduction to last meal (5) 25 Where to find odd bits of pillar when climbing? (3)