No 14879, Saturday 22 Aug 2026, Afterdark

 ACROSS
8 A rule introduced in eatery for getting a pitcher (6) CARAFE {C{A}{R}AFE}

9 Eater was supplied brine, perhaps (8) SEAWATER*
10 Shortly, issue will be all over head-office (4) SOON {SO{Office}N}
11 Relative's action is engaging; first song better in second part (10) STEPSISTER {STEP}{Song{IS}{betTER}
12 Confusion after he hid a last letter (4) HAZE {H{A}{Z}E}
13 Lot of kind people entering a street (10) ASSORTMENT {SORT}{MEN} in {A}{ST}
17 Kept time post noon to get gas (4) NEON {EON}<=>{N}
18 Stupid, caught robbing primarily, idiot (5) CRASS {C}{Robbing}{ASS}
19 Bowled in pitch to get lift, say (1-3) T-BAR {T{B}AR}

21 Wealthy global travellers seen with black dogs, say (3-7) JET-SETTERS {JET}{SETTERS}
23 Unusual file type extracted in the beginning (4) RARE {RAR}{Extracted}
24 Deal gone wrong in prison, branch siphoned 50% of device to hold lights (10) CANDLEABRA {DEAL*}in {CAN}{BRAnch}

28 Bankrupt Penny gathering ducks to have dinner at the end (4) POOR {P}{O}{O}{dinneR}
29 Foolishly, use cell at the beginning of show if ignorant (8) CLUELESS {USE CELL*}{Show}
30 Outstanding person in York loses head, breaks college equipment at the entrance and runs (6) CORKER {yORK} in {College Equipment}+R

DOWN
1 Drunk sailor aboard, argues frequently leading to disruption (8) SABOTAGE {S{AB}OT}{ArGuEs}
2 Game's rule; point 10 is covering advantage essentially (4,6) LAWN TENNIS {LAW}{N}{TEN{advaNtage}{IS}
3 No charge included in removing parasite from pet, perhaps (7,3) PERSIAN CAT {NC} in {PARASITE*}

4 Lewis Lennox is detaining man, say (4) ISLE [T]
5 Girl tumbler loses cap (4) LASS {gLASS}
6 According to sources, many anarchists support seething crowd (4) MASS [Acrostic]
7 Humble democrat remains oddly away (6) DEMEAN {DEM}{rEmAiN}
14 Son managed to withdraw Euros and wire (5) SNARE {S}{RAN<}{E}
15 Opposition is surrounded by others, one apprehends alderman ultimately (10) RESISTANCE {RES{IS}T}{A{aldermaN}CE}
16 Say, racing to promoters, to redeem debenture ultimately and consolidate (10) MOTORSPORT {TO PROMOTeRS}*

20 Arrive hurriedly to take CO into protection, perhaps (3,5) AIR COVER {ARRIVE}* around {CO}
22 St. Helena blenders seized with warrant (6) ENABLE [T]
25 Sketched a water droplet right inside (4) DREW {D{R}EW}
26 Made up a story and ushered first person inside (4) LIED {L{I}ED}
27 Former president of America spotted in Belize (4) BUSH [DD]

REFERENCE LIST

Rule=R, Street=ST, Noon=N, Caught=C, Bowled=B, Penny=P, Runs=R, Sailor=AB, N o Charge=NC, Democrat=DEM, Son=S, Euros=E, One=Ace, Right=R, First Person=I.