The Sunday Crossword No 3264, Sunday 23 Jul 2023

ACROSS

1   Clutches Greek serpents (6) GRASPS {GR}{ASPS}

4   Sailor's assistant we're told brings on cargo of bitumen (8) LODESTAR {(~loads)LODES}{TAR}

9   Holds sway: good to assume means of control (6) REIGNS {REI{G}NS}

10 Everyman's entirely in vulgar fashion (8) IMPURELY {I'M}{PURELY}  

12 Nuisances in small numbers (8) HANDFULS [DD]

13 Some señoritas selected dangling ornamentation (6) TASSEL [T]

15 Predominates, bizarrely, having taken off (12) IMPERSONATED*

18 Arrangement of Elgar – and 'Land...' is what'll get your heart racing (7,5) ADRENAL GLAND*

21 One finding bees surrounding 10 goats (6) IBEXES {1}{BE{X}ES}

22 Avoid sun, despite being prepared (8) SIDESTEP {S}{DESPITE*}

24 Those easily angered exchanging words in a posed photograph (8) HEADSHOT  {HOT<=>HEADS}

25 Incredibly slender terrains helping mainlands interconnect, primarily? (6) ISTHMI Acrostic &lit

26 Baked spanakopita OAP strangely rejected in Commonwealth country (8) PAKISTAN {SPANAKopITa}*

27 Welcomes a fleece to clothe son (4,2) ASKS IN {A}{SK{S}IN}

DOWN

1   Whingers roasted composer (8) GERSHWIN*

2   After a year, one has a rest: a Cypriot resort (4,4) AYIA NAPA {A}{Y}{1}{NAP}{A}

3   Fear depression's bad habits (8,7) PINAFORE DRESSES*

5   Cockney detective's measured resistance (4) OHMS (~holmes)

6   Train with Dutch boarders losing time before El Salvador? They're not certain (8,7) EDUCATED GUESSES {EDUCATE}{D}{GUEStS}{ES}

7   Tense hold-up, I believe (6) THEIST {T}{HEIST}

8   Monarch and kin greatly amuse soldiers (when sent up) (6)  ROYALS {SLAY}{OR}<=

11 Crusty loaf? That's a mistake (7)  BLOOMER [DD]

14 Bass and violin initially introducing song in a state (7) BAVARIA {Bass}{And}{Vi...n}{ARIA}

16 Captain Charles twice briefly showing security measures (8) CAPTCHAS {CAPT}{CHAS}

17 Support commercial possibility (8) ADOPTION {AD}{OPTION}

19 Part of nightclub is hoppin', man! (6) BISHOP [T]

20 Once again evaluate a comment (6) REMARK {RE-MARK}

23 Shakespeare's river's rising: a stellar sight (4) NOVA<=

Reference List

Greek = GR, Good = G, Ten = X, Sun = S, Son =S, Year = Y, Dutch = D, Time = T, Tense = T, Soldiers = OR(Other Ranks), Commercial = AD