No 14685, Wednesday 07 Jan 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 25A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

7   Part of Villa Red overlooks this inland port on the Mexican border (6) LAREDO [T]

8   Allergic reaction's possibly very safe? Oh, not so! (3,5) HAY FEVER {VERY+sAFE+oH}*

9   Look, Lily is prompt, making regular sacrifices - sweet! (8) LOLLIPOP {LoOk+LiLy+Is+PrOmPt}

10 To a certain extent promote the Romantic Bond (6) TETHER [T]

11 When this land of opportunity destroyed woodland here! (2,6) EL DORADO {EL DORADO+WHEN}*= WOODLAND HERE [CA]

12 Spooner's drink, fresh - it cuts sharply? (6) RIPSAW (~sip raw to Ripsaw)

13 Trick nice aunt potentially for maintenance (11) CONTINUANCE {CON}{NICE+AUNT}*

18 I am sadly returning fermented meat (6) SALAMI {I'M}{ALAS}<=

20 Polite boy (Myra's second), liberal & extremely knowledgeable about India (8) LADYLIKE {LAD}{mYra}{L}{I}{Kn...lE}

22 One of the Little Women basically young, fiery, unconventional, loyal & sunny (6) JOYFUL {JO}{Yo..g}{Fi..y}{Un...l}{Lo..l}

23 Spur straps? (8) STIRRUPS {SPUR}* [RA]

24 Indian goddess with colony of non-conformists (8) DEVIANTS {DEVI}{ANTS}

25 Red drink with Grand Queen (6) G?N?E? (Addendum - GINGER {GIN}{G}{ER} - See comments)

DOWN

1   Scan over layer of trappings (7) PANOPLY {PAN}{O}{PLY}

2   Sitting pretty in silk stocking (4-2-2) WELL-TO-DO [CD]

3   In retrospect factor in magical Pooh's bustling activity (6) HOOPLA [T<=]

4   This year wasted in a state of panic (8) HYSTERIA*

5   Inhibited writer's set back (4-2) PENT-UP {PEN}{PUT<=}

6   We learn about restoration (7) RENEWAL*

8   Use polish any number of times to get a therapist's tool (13) HYPNOANALYSIS {POLISH+ANY}* [letter Bank]

14 Model's right, one affair's insignificant (8) TRIFLING {T}{R}{1}{FLING}

15 Rich Noel to become a salt producer (8) CHLORINE*

16 Morning after girl leaves city (7) HANOVER HANgOVER

17 Small fish for master (7) SKIPPER {S}{KIPPER}

19 Fully informed about leading anonymous UN forum and investigating treachery (2,4) AU FAIT  Acrostic

21 Endless soda & gin cocktail in proceedings (6) DOINGS {SODa+GIN}*

Reference List

Liberal = L, India = I, Grand = G, Queen = ER, Over = O, Right = R, Girl = G, Small = S