No 2768, Sunday 08 Dec 2013

ACROSS
1   Fork in byway, initially leading to farm (6) BRANCH {B}{RANCH}
4   Ducks in shopping area by a road close to ponds (8) MALLARDS {MALL}{A}{RD}{S}

10 Potential shown by former PM's gardener (10,5) CAPABILITY BROWN {CAPABILITY} {BROWN}
11 Sat out in front of a Parisian church, being hearty (7) STAUNCH {SAT*}{UN}{CH}
12 Boy nicking article is serious (7) EARNEST {E{A}RNEST}
13 Estimator abroad in Asian country (4,5) EAST TIMOR*

15 Song told a story (4) LIED [DD]
17 Queen featured in Cuban newspaper (4) ANNE [T]
19 Set-to with crew, unfortunately, in Northants town (9) TOWCESTER*
22 Good one in bar, clear (7) LOGICAL {LO{G}{1}CAL}
23 Big eel wriggling across lake, clear (7) LEGIBLE {LEGIB{L}E*}
25 The minutes of the last meeting should be one of the most important things to be discussed? (4,2,3,6) HIGH ON THE AGENDA [CD]
26 Film ambassador and bishop on board train (3,5) THE BEACH {T{HE} {B}EACH} Put in '{T{HE} {B}RAIN}' initially and got stuck.
27 Around noon, notice vet coming (6) ADVENT {AD}{VE{N}T}

DOWN
1   Free antelope and most of other ruminants (8) BUCKSHEE {BUCK}{SHEEp}
2   In sacred river, a leading character (5) ALPHA {ALPH}{A}

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree :

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

Through caverns measureless to man

Down to a sunless sea. (lines 1–5)

3   Piece of furniture - can it be baroque? (7) CABINET*
5   In a straight line? Amazing cartwheels, if so (2,3,4,5) AS THE CROW FLIES*
6   Broad-minded, artist included in false statement? (7) LIBERAL {LIBE{RA}L}
7   Vote loser, possibly, for president (9) ROOSEVELT*
8   Legislative body established around North America and Spain (6) SENATE {SE{NA}T}{E}
9   Football club's team had to chill out (6,8) OLDHAM ATHLETIC*
14 Highly curious after crime? Sounds like it in place of worship (9) SYNAGOGUE (~sin agog)
16 Object after silly sketch (8) ARTEFACT {AFTER*}{ACT}
18 Almost stop by nearby pen (7) ENCLOSE {ENd}{CLOSE}
20 Given a ring and hired? (7) ENGAGED [DD]
21 Stale pork pie, say, could be past its sell-by date? (3,3) OLD HAT {OLD} {HAT}
24 Spree in Crosby, perhaps ending in Bootle (5) BINGE {BING}{E}