No 11781, Friday 19 Aug 2016, Exa

ACROSS
7   Progress made by club member (5) CLIMB {C}{LIMB}
8   Fashion diva's fit and proper (9) ADVISABLE {DIVAS*}{ABLE}
10 Failure in business after film actor retires (6) FIASCO {SAIF<=}{CO}
11 Got into bed with a criminal (8) OBTAINED {INTO+BED+A}*
12 Kid is bound to find something to slide on (8) BANISTER {IS} in {BANTER}

13 Attain heroin in slum area (6) GHETTO {H} in {GET TO}
14 Snake correctly named by the charmer at last (7) MEANDER {NAMED*}{thE}{c...eR}
16 Endless longing for drug (7) ASPIRIN ASPIRINg
20 Messages them abuses right away (6) EMAILS {'EM}{rAILS}
23 Source of beautiful aroma is possibly this (8) AMBROSIA {Be...l+AROMA+IS}* &lit
25 Contacted Harry's buddy by telephone to know where potions are brewed (8) CAULDRON (~called){CAULD}{RON}
26 Way a jerk is resting (6) STATIC {ST}{A}{TIC}
27 British Party head's being audacious (9) BRAVENESS {B}{RAVE}{NESS} 
28 Crazy about electronic rhythms (5) BEATS {B{E}ATS}

DOWN
1   Extremely useful cooking item purchased at last (8) ULTIMATE {Us..uL}{TIM{AT}E*}
2   Release energy on purpose (8) EMISSION {E}{MISSION}
3   Well-read journalists welcome to stay (7) ADJOURN [T]
4   Very unusual seating times (8) VINTAGES {V}{SEATING}*
5   Ridicule father outside a bar (6) SATIRE {SIRE} around {A}{T}
6   Right time to go after cocaine user (6) CLIENT {C}{LIEN}{T}
9   Very upset after start of big fire (4) BOOT {Big}{TOO<=}
15 Cherish being in her pants (8) ENSHRINE {ENS}{IN+HER}*
17 Tale I'd spread about child forgetting name is unusual (8) ISOLATED {TALE+I'D}* over {SOn}
18 Train set in motion (8) INITIATE [DD]
19 Dedicated trainees losing interest in work (7) EARNEST TRAiNEES*
21 Small male bird changing direction (6) MEAGRE {M}{EAG(-l+r)RE}
22 One racy novel showing intimacy (2,4) IN LOVE {1}{N LOVE*}
24 Book hotel to hold a small party (4) BASH {A}{S} in {B}{H}

GRID

No 11755, Tuesday 19 Jul 2016, Exa

ACROSS
7   Feature hotshot in paper (5) FACET {F{ACE}T}
8   Decline a bet meant to be lost (9) ABATEMENT*
10 Information given by advertisement's wrong (6) ADVICE {AD}{VICE}
11 Take off an undergarment – go without it (8) TRAVESTY {TR{A}{VEST}Y}
12 Story about Nicolas penned (8) COVERAGE {C{OVER}AGE}
13 Famous writer's article on 'ego' broadcast (6) GOETHE {EGO*}{THE}
14 Clear out drawing books from the middle (7) CENTRAL {NT} in {CLEAR}*
16 Most affected by endless pain in abdomen (7) STOMACH {MOST}*{ACHe}
20 Correct wrong year (6) UPDATE [CD] (Addendum - {UP}{DATE} - A little birdie asked  me to correct this}
23 Difficult, at sixteen, to make a living (8) EXISTENT {aT+SIXTEEN}* How is A removed?
25 Huge mineral waste suppressed (8) COLOSSAL {CO{LOSS}AL}
26 Move over a box (6) CARTON {CART}{ON}
27 Support engineers for nice careers (9) REINFORCE {RE}{FOR+NICE}*
28 Make love, with hesitation, in film (5) LAYER {LAY}{ER}

DOWN
1   Collection of clothes with a fashionable border (8) WARDROBE {W}{A}{BORDER}*
2   Writer I shelter with regret (8) PENITENT {PEN}{I}{TENT}
3   I'll help a teetotaller fill ale (7) ABETTER {A}{BE{TT}ER}
4   Shirt tag removed at once (8) STRAIGHT*
5   Edges away from spoilt electrical unit (6) AMPERE hAMPEREd (Addendum - pAMPEREd - See comments)
6   Kidnap – can't criminal keep quiet about it? (6) SNATCH {S{CANT*}H}
9   Excellent bringing back a prize (4) MEGA {MEG}{A}<=
15 To state "no" is another way of expressing dislike (8) AVERSION {AVER}{IS+NO}*
17 Stuff husband took back home (8) MATERIAL {MATE}{LAIR<=}
18 Read and write down date as suggested (8) CONNOTED {CON}{NOTE}{D}
19 Put back a revolting flavour (7) REPLACE {PER<=}{LACE}
21 Motivate learner to pursue professional training (6) PROPEL {PRO}{PE}{L}
22 Flourish in a game by capturing bishop instead of rook (6) ABOUND {A}{(-r+b)BOUND}
24 Power cut in stadium causing irritation (4) ITCH pITCH

GRID

No 11729, Friday 17 Jun 2016, Exa

ACROSS
7   Poor second-rate leads in rap (5) BLAME {B}{LAME}
8   Cat, inside building, leaves marks (9) INDICATES*
10 Ham, it comes from extra produce (6) OVERDO {OVER}{DO}
11 Endlessly kills for amusement (8) LAUGHTER sLAUGHTERs
12 Get going with best EP on iTunes (4,2,2) STEP ON IT [T]
13 A small bird's behind the aircraft (6) ASTERN {A}{S}{TERN}
14 Calculate professional fee (7) PRORATE {PRO}{RATE}
16 Weaken power to obliterate houses (7) DEPLETE {DE{P}LETE}
20 Surface of a rough paper (6) APPEAR {A}{PAPER*}
23 End a benefit RTI maintained (8) ABORTION {A}{BO{RTI}ON}
25 Great to collect boundless wealth in the name of charity (8) LARGESSE {aSSEt} in {LARGE}
26 One way to divide left over piece of bacon (6) LARDON {L}{A}{RD}{ON} ON for Over? Anno for N not clear

27 Find out about name I need to change (9) DETERMINE {I+NEED}* about {TERM}
28 Platform Gates developed (5) STAGE*

DOWN
1   Program a lever to lift (8) ELEVATOR*
2   Ace salesman rejected after admitting wrong (8) IMPROPER {I'M PRO}{REP<=}
3   Fill air in punctured tyre at last (7) INFLATE {IN}{FLAT}{tyrE}
4   Put on stupid suit? Lame (8) SIMULATE*
5   I'll misbehave in drinking spree around commercial hotel (3,3) BAD HAT {B{AD}{H} AT}
6   Film, though not suitable for all, generated revenue (6) VENEER REVENuE*
9   Make icon flashy (4) COIN*
15 Boring being in the back of theatre, it's more exciting in the front (8) TIRESOME {t...rE+ITS+MORE}*
17 Repeat after student to be able to read (8) LITERATE {L}{ITERATE}
18 Rigorous, hard or laborious to overcome it (8) THOROUGH {T{H}{OR}OUGH}
19 Show desire to attain maturity (7) PAGEANT {P{AGE}ANT}
21 Smooth bar – Mars perhaps (6) PLANET {PLANE}{T}
22 Bird, elegant in flight, has no name given to it (6) EAGLET ELEGAnT*
24 Working with extremely lively individual (4) ONLY {ON}{Li..lY}

GRID

No 11702, Tuesday 17 May 2016, Exa

ACROSS
7   Chest smell - so masculine (5) BOSOM {BO}{SO}{M}
8   Manoeuvre made by small-time rogue to get a jewel (9) STRATAGEM {S}{T}{RAT}{A}{GEM}
10 Award finest woman with Oscar (6) BESTOW {BEST}{O}{W}
11 Waffle cake - flipping good to eat it (6,2) RABBIT ON {RAB<=}{B{IT} ON}
12 Realised I'm entitled to keep the deposit (8) SEDIMENT [T]
13 Pay back trader only 50% in time (6) AVENGE {A{VENdor}GE}
14 Run straight - make an impression (7) STRETCH {STR}{ETCH} STR for straight? Anno not clear See comments
16 Around November, intended to get back (7) FINANCE {FI{N}ANCE}
20 One'll shoot soldiers after swinging mace (6) CAMERA {MACE*}{RA}
23 I note surface is worthy of being copied (8) IMITABLE {I}{MI}{TABLE}
25 Operation - a marshal didn't carry one out (8) ADDITION {A}{DIDNT}* over {1}{O}
26 Pot? Say 'no' (3,3) OPT OUT {POT}*
27 A flower I put on rug is bound to give a pleasant smell (9) AROMATISE {A}{RO{MAT}{I}SE} How does I come after MAT? See comments
28 Upright piano fit inside for musician (5) PIPER {PI{P}ER}

DOWN
1   Sound that's let out after mysterious echo (8) COHERENT {ECHO*}{RENT}
2   In court, running ritual with regret (8) CONTRITE {C{ON}T}{RITE}
3   Repeat it time after time, echo (7) ITERATE {IT}{ERA}{T}{E}
4   City in India and Bahrain perhaps put under pressure (8) PARBHANI {P}{BAHRAIN}*
5   Want a maiden that's beautiful on the outside (6) FAMINE {F{A}{M}INE}
6   Take plenty of time to be considered a member (6) BELONG {BE LONG}
9   What we eat that's sweet (4) TWEE [T]
15 Toast made is to two-wheelers (8) CHARIOTS {CHAR}{IS+TO}*
17 Butcher boar, with it, at slaughterhouse (8) ABATTOIR {BOAR+IT+AT}*
18 Biased column our journalist's written ... (8) COLOURED {COL}{OUR}{ED}
19 ... its news had to be redrafted for The Observer (7) WITNESS*
21 They help those attacking without leader (6) AIDERS rAIDERS
22 Imagined flying without wings to be a problem (6) ENIGMA iMAGINEd*
24 Figure obtained through business in banks (4) ICON {I{CO}N}

GRID

No 11675, Wednesday 13 Apr 2016, Exa

ACROSS
7   Rogue day after day consumed drug (5) DEMON {D}{E}{MON}
8   Stupidity of one racing recklessly (9) IGNORANCE*
10 Name of maiden sporting fancy tiara (6) AMRITA {M} in {TIARA}*
11 Retired police force helping to find a pattern (8) TEMPLATE {TEM<=}{PLATE} Anno for Plate pending See comments
12 Hunt after a special, captivating bird (8) PARAKEET {P{A}{RAKE}ET}

13 Incriminate the robber that snatched a chain (6) TETHER [T]
14 Kid played with electronic device (7) DECEIVE {E+DEVICE}*
16 Chameleon left a man panicking in the office (7) ECHELON CHamELEON*
20 A strong, beautiful relationship (6) AFFAIR {A}{F}{FAIR}
23 Most of pig meat too swallowed by a reptile (8) ANACONDA {AN{bACON}D}{A}
25 A chap at harbour crosses river to get to this shrine (8) AMARNATH {A}{MA{R}N}{AT}{H}

26 A number taken in by magician producing crow (6) MAGPIE {MAG{PI}E}

27 Safe to live in a resort (9) INVIOLATE*
28 Sound positive (5) UTTER [DD]

DOWN
1   Fill a lover with ecstasy (8) PERMEATE {PER}{M{E}ATE}
2   Mention a different name (8) NOMINATE*
3   Rock — it cracked one's doorway (7) AGITATE {A}{G{IT}ATE}
4   Foreigner invested in huge beauty product (8) COSMETIC {COSM{ET}IC}
5   Everyone's entertained by live bar dancing (6) BALLET {B{ALL}E}{T}
6   Cast healed the man's injury (6) SCATHE {CAST*}{HE}
9   Parcel a starter of beef and beer (4) BALE {Beef}{ALE}
15 It might be of great, little, or even no value (8) VARIABLE [CD]
17 Stretch out stylishly elegant carpets (8) ELONGATE {ELEGANT}* over {O}
18 Turn female away — bank needs to employ male veteran (3-5) OLD-TIMER {fOLD}-{TI{M}ER}
19 Teach me to swing a knife (7) MACHETE*
21 Encourage ladies to go topless in paper (6) FOMENT {wOMEN} in {FT}
22 Clever Democrat stops a riot from raging out of control (6) ADROIT {D} in {A+RIOT}*
24 Top spun around by Exa (4) ACME {AC<=}{ME}

GRID

No 11648, Saturday 12 Mar 2016, Exa

Across

5 Batting master-class (6) STREAM {MASTER*}
7 My steel is forged into a piece of armour (8) CORSELET {COR}{STEEL*}
9 No date after bachelor party (4) BAND {BA}{N}{D}
10 Site with guitar playing tips? (10) GRATUITIES {SITE+GUITAR}*
11 Differentiate 9sin(t)/cos(t) to solve for variable (12) INCONSISTENT {NINE+SIN+T+COS+T}*
13 A little toddler rolled a smoke? Shocking! (6) TRAGIC {TRA}{GIC<=} Anno not clear {Toddler}{RAGIC<=} See Comments
15 Follow men's fashion (6) TAILOR {TAIL}{OR} {TAIL}{OR}
18 Proof of business — business in a country (12) CONFIRMATION {CO}{N{FIRM}ATION}
21 Showing dislike towards popular PG houses (10)  PRESENTING {P{RESENT}{IN}G}
22 Change for 100 spent in an order (4) EDIT {EDIcT}
23 A male wild boar is heavenly food (8) AMBROSIA {A}{M}{BOAR+IS}*
24 Fly across through the borders (6) AVIATE {A}{VIA}{ThE}

Down

1 Reckless of the topless drunk lad to have gone around without drug (8) HEADLONG {tHE}{LAD*}{GONe}*
2 Admitting travel is about seeing friends (6) AMIGOS {AM}{I{GO}S}
3 Reason a crack's filled with cement (8) ARGUMENT {A}{R{GUM}ENT}
4 Leave for lunch in a bit (4,2) BEAT IT {B{EAT} IT}
6 Sports shoes for high terrains (8) TRAINERS {TERRAINS*}
7 Paragraph about a trainee engaged in work (6) CLAUSE {C{L}AUSE}
8 Watched river receding around the end of January (4) EYED {E{jan..Y}ED<=}
12 Immigrant: one on the street (8) COLONIST {COLON}{I}{ST}
14 Treat as St. John, one saving lives (8) CANONISE {CAN}{ON{IS}E}
16 Hernia, it's spreading — yes, it's spreading! (2,3,3) IN THE AIR {HERNIA IT}*
17 Fossil I carved yields an abundant mineral (6)  SILICA (T)
18 Fabulous actor's a controversial world figure (6) CASTRO {ACTOR S}*
19 Seduction of girl by mature woman is hot stuff (6) MAGMAS {MA{G}MA}{S}
20 Down drink in container (4) DRUM {D}{RUM}

Reference list

My=Cor, No=N, Date=D, Bachelor=BA, Men=OR(Ordinary Ranks), Business=Co, Business=Firm, Popular=In, 100=C, Male=M, Across=A, 
Through=Via,  Drug=E (Ecstasy), Trainee=L (Learner), River=Dee, One=I, Street=St, John=Can, Lives=Is, Girl=G, Down=D, Drink=Rum

Color/Font Scheme

Definition,Solution,Component letters,Anagram Indicator,C/C indicator,Reversal Indicator,Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator,Deletion Indicator,Homophone Indicator,Movement Indicator,Positional Indicator,Substitution Indicator

GRID

No 11621, Wednesday 10 Feb 2016, Exa

ACROSS
5   Not turning into champion immediately (2,4) AT ONCE {A{T ON<=}CE}
7   University students carry gloves to where fights are held (8) BULLRING {U}{LL} in {BRING}
9   Live around gold mine (4) BORE {B{OR}E}
10 Great engineer mentored us (10) TREMENDOUS*
11 Withdrawing books after agreement's stamped (12) ESTRANGEMENT {AGREEMENT'S}*{NT}
13 Jewel associated with the French and Parish official (6) BEADLE {BEAD}{LE}
15 Passionate, fanatical friend won't stop chasing love (2,4) ON FIRE {FRIend} after {O} 'E' from ? (Addendum - {FRIENd*} after {O} - See comments)
18 Needless to say, endless working leads to depression (12) DESOLATENESS {NEEDLESS+TO+SAy}*}
21 Firm shrewdly denied possession of title (10) DETERMINED {TERM} in {DENIED}*
22 Corner a king at close quarters (4) NEAR {NE}{A}{R}
23 Couple hired band (8) BRACELET {BRACE}{LET}
24 Any use appearing to be worried? (6) UNEASY*

DOWN
1   Attracted close to a bright colour on taking drug (8) ENDEARED {END}{E}{A}{RED}
2   In inner room consume what's whipped (6) BEATEN {EAT} in {BEN}
3   Get a role to play for close friend (5,3)  ALTER EGO*
4   Catholic tried to spread belief (6) CREDIT {C}{TRIED*}
6   Overly large woman had implements stored here (8) TOOLSHED {TOO}{L}{SHE'D}
7   Outspoken offspring mixed (6) BREWED (~brood)
8   Word is out that sister is touring (4) NOUN {N{O}UN}
12 Crime has old man getting into terrible stress (8) TRESPASS {PA} in {STRESS}*
14 Chorus answer for 5 Ac. (8) ENSEMBLE [DD]
16 Fines can be collected to generate funds (8) FINANCES*
17 A high mountain's climbed to gain a body (6) PLANET {PLA<=}{NET}
18 Dame goes round river to get wet (6) DRENCH {D{R}ENCH}
19 Bottom of butt I'd certainly clean (4,2)  TIDY UP {butT}{I'D}{Y UP}
20 Diamonds are ridiculously expensive (4) DEAR {D}{ARE*}

No 11593, Wednesday 06 Jan 2016, Exa

Crisp definitions.

ACROSS
5   A celebrity keeps student excited (6) AFLAME {A}{F{L}AME}
7   Crew gets old dresses (8) BANDAGES {BAND}{AGES}
9   Perfect chance to tour the south (4) BEST {BE{S}T}
10 Old-fashioned rock genre has a 50's beat (10) OUTGENERAL {OUT}{GENRE*}{A}{L}
11 Brand new chai caterers (12) CHARACTERISE*
13 Compassionate tone enthralls lover (6) HUMANE {HU{MAN}E}
15 Boys held by law for wreckage (6) RUBBLE {RU{BB}LE}
18 Trim, fashionable girls now changing into robe (8,4) DRESSING GOWN {DRESS}{IN}{G G}{NOW*}
21 Mom dancing when drunk? Impressive (10) COMMANDING*
22 Turned on by jolly type (4) NORM {NO<=}{RM} Jolly=Royal Marine=RM
23 Short, skinny trousers proper for coastal resort (8) BRIGHTON {RIGHT} in {BONy}
24 Time of day in New York now (6) TRENDY {T}{RE}{N{D}Y}

DOWN
1   Bugs bachelor with endlessly dreadful recital (8) BACTERIA {BA}{RECITAl}*
2   Grand choir arranged over middle of opera (6) HEROIC {CHOIR+opEra}*
3   Lower pants (8) INFERIOR [DD]
4   Grace men with flowers (6) RACEME [T]

6   Expand shelf (5,3) FLESH OUT {SHELF}*
7   Friend lacking resistance to trouble (6) BOTHER BrOTHER
8   Minute cutting tool lifted for an evaluation (4) EXAM {EXA}{M}<=
12 Fresh folder we opened (8) FLOWERED*
14 Drug that for married one in motherhood is paradise (8) ETERNITY (-m-a+e)ETERNITY
16 Order beer and gin with northern starter (8) BEGINNER {BEER+GIN+N}*
17 Give out a small warning (6) ASSIGN {A}{S}{SIGN}
18 Lady given silver as compensation (6) DAMAGE {DAM{AG}E}
19 Oppose rebellious teenager without hesitation (6) NEGATE TEENAGer*
20 Give gold entry (4) DOOR {DO}{OR}

GRID

No 11566, Friday 04 Dec 2015, Exa

ACROSS
5   Twist adopted in French film (6) VENEER {EN} in {VEER}
7   Bachelor going around with woman that's 50? Strange (8) ABNORMAL {AB<=}{NORMA}{L}
9   Forgery in business tactic - look out! (4) COPY {CO}{PloY}
10 Doctor cures teen born with a condition of redness (10) E?U?I?C?N? (Addendum - ERUBESCENT {CURES+TEEN+B}* - See comments)
11 No vessel there at sea yet (12) NEVERTHELESS {N}{VESSEL+THERE}*
13 Beginning to feed weak stranger with a piece of meat (6) FILLET {Feed}{ILL}{ET}
15 Article is about head of state's proposition (6) THESIS {THE}{State}{IS}
18 Dislikes stench in a mansion - it's horrible (12) ABOMINATIONS {BO} in {A+MANSION+IT}
21 Sister tucks into cheerful uniform (10) CONSISTENT {CON{SIS}TENT}
22 Smile I let out round the woods (4) ELMS SMiLE*
23 Profits are split between partners in middle of night (8) EARNINGS {EAR}*{N{IN}{niGht}S}
24 Empty can put in bin (6) VACANT {VA{CAN}T}

DOWN
1    "Yes" is so pleasing (4,4) VERY WELL [DD]
2   Passionate setter wanting tip from Textrous (6) ARDENT {ARDEN}{Te...s}
3   Affair in the lodging when husband is away (8) INCIDENT Anno pending (Addendum INTEREST {IN}{ThE}{REST} - See comments)
4   Couples chase a little beer before heading for show (6) BRACES {Beer}{RACE}{Show}
6   Secret I struggled to keep, old secret (8) ESOTERIC {O} in {SECRET+I}*
7   Copper cracks suspect name with ingenuity (6) ACUMEN {CU} in {NAME}*
8   Spots cycle in a corner (4) ACNE {A}{C}{NE}
12 Club/bar opened by PM will provide extra flavouring for food and drink (8) CINNAMON {C}{INN}{AM}{ON} How does PM become AM? (Addendum - {C}{IN{NAMO}N} - See comments)
14 Played hot and entertaining American number (8) THOUSAND {US} in {HOT+AND}*
16 Vagrant envied church exhibit (8) EVIDENCE {ENVIED}*{CE}
17 Breaking news about one dead is spreading (6) WIDENS {NEWS}* around {1}{D}
18 Player switched seats without permission (6) ASSENT {N} in {SEATS}*
19 Energetic performance given at heart (6) ACTIVE {ACT}{gIVEn}
20 Girl playing with mother outdoors (4) MONA {M{ON}A}

GRID

No 11538, Friday 30 Oct 2015, Exa

ACROSS
1   Open with a jack, ace and king (4) AJAR {A}{J}{A}{R}
3   Armed soldiers transport beers in parts (10) CARBINEERS  {CAR}{B{IN}EERS}
10 Starting point taken with nice shot (9) INCEPTION {POINT+NICE}*
11 Short word seen in shorter sentences (5) TERSE [T]
12 Her pop knitted small jumpers (7) HOPPERS {HER+POP}*{S}
13 Drink local rum outside house (7) ALCOHOL {LOCAL}* around {HO}
14 Make rotten, bad, dud clues every now and then (5) ADDLE {bAd}{DuD}{cLuEs}
15 Pressing occasion (7) INSTANT [DD]
18 They’re planted leaving leads in plot ruses (7) LOTUSES {pLOT}{rUSES}
21 Amateur starting to stir tea bags in confusion (2,3) AT SEA {A}{T {Stir}EA}
24 Sign a picture with us at Spain (7) AUSPICE {A}{US}{PIC}{E}
26 Be cool about servant going around with husband (7) REFRESH {RE}{FRES<=}{H}
27 Stirring a fight (5) ABOUT {A}{BOUT}
28 Hateful wind, hot and barren (9) ABHORRENT {HOT+BARREN}*
29 Recording and knowing data not quite different (6,4) TAKING DOWN {KNOWING+DATa}*
30 Time to open weekend surprise (4) STUN {T} in {SUN}

DOWN
1   After first left, head off straight and get down (6) ALIGHT {Af..r}{L}{rIGHT}
2   Pronunciation with apt pitching is receptive (9) ACCEPTANT {ACCENT+APT}*
4   A paper for debate (2,5) AT ISSUE {A}{T ISSUE}
5   Bangle I fashioned for Bipasha? (7) BENGALI*
6   Bills notes (7) NOTICES [DD]
7   World held by nuclear threat (5) EARTH [T]
8   Set out after hours to drink a little liquor — just like stars (8) STELLATE {SET}*{L{Li...r}ATE}
9   Attach a couple of pages on completion (6) APPEND {A}{PP}{END}
16 Mean beast exercising an act of humiliation (9) ABASEMENT*
17 Friendly countryman seen around lake (8) PLEASANT {P{L}EASANT}
19 Affected by love though condition isn't met (7) SMITTEN*
20 Set cryptic section for Guardian (7) STEWARD {SET*}{WARD}
21 Fliers raise publicity for such an occasion (3,4) AIR SHOW {AIR} {SHOW} &lit
22 A female dressed in traditional material for expedition (6) SAFARI {A}{F} in {SARI}
23 Country bar allows room for shelter (6) BHUTAN {HUT} in {BAN}

25 Numb hand injecting blow (5) SHOCK {H} in {SOCK}

GRID

No 11483, Wednesday 26 Aug 2015, Exa

ACROSS
1   Tempt graduate to join IT (4) BAIT {BA}{IT}
3   The hacks I'd engineered for dummies (10) THICKHEADS*
10 Journalist drinking rum is no longer social (9) ESTRANGED {E{STRANGE}D}
11 Float up in the air (5) ALOFT*
12 Hall, in that corner, will have a bar (7) THEATRE {THE{A}{T}RE}
13 Loser desperate to have sex is wandering aimlessly (7) LOITERS {LOSER}* around {IT} Shouldn't that be Sex appeal? See comments

14 Correspond with a girl over phone at last (5) AGREE {A}{G}{RE}{p..nE}
15 Synthesised drugs are right away sprinkled (7) SUGARED {DRUGS+ArE}*
18 Essentially spent dollars to have trimmed pants and chain (7) PENDANT {sPENt}{D}{pANTs}
21 Cover diamonds on ship (5) DRESS {D}{RE}{SS}
24 Paper boat I'd folded went around lake (7) TABLOID {BOAT+I'D}* around {L}
26 Top southern wrestler (7) SPINNER {S}{PINNER}
27 I court what's accurate (5) EXACT {EXA}{CT}
28 Shabby bar set I meant to be thrown out (9) ESTAMINET*
29 Harry Potter eyes: a trait that's grown stale with time (10) STEREOTYPE*
30 Foreigner invested in banks for business stakes (4) BETS {Busi{ET}nesS}

DOWN
1   Wash clothes on air (6) BREATH {B{RE}ATH}
2   Good to feed poor, thin men for the most part (2,3,4) IN THE MAIN {A1} in {THIN+MEN}*
4   He kept longing to have some gin as it's a healthy practise (7) HYGIENE {H{Y{GIn}EN}E}
5   Cooks long-bodied fish with bits of dill laid evenly (7) CODDLES {COD{Dill}{Laid}{Ev...y}S}
6   Partner consuming sandwiches and throwing up (7) HEAVING {H{E}AVING}
7   Emerged with revolutionary army to out opponents (5) AROSE Anno left for other solvers (Addendum - {AR<=}{O}{SE} - See comments)
8   Model in the beach is meant for something more special (3,5) SET ASIDE {SE{T} ASIDE}
9   Joking bartender left the German drunk (6) BANTER  BARTENder*
16 Managed to take organ up at church — it gives out an amplified sound (9) RESONANCE {R{ESON<=}AN}{CE}
17 Southern-side grass not as much clean (8) SPOTLESS {So...n}{POT}{LESS}
19 Position beer bottles for champion (7) APOSTLE {A{POST}LE}
20 Liquid diet — it’s most systematic (7) TIDIEST*
21 Student's workplace had to initially part with a sort of computer (7) DESKTOP {DESK}{TO}{Part}
22 Riddle in game needs to be worked out (6) ENIGMA*
23 Cases fancy art in extremely romantic place? Yes! (6) CRATES {r...iC}{ART}*{p..cE}{yeS}
25 Splendid bachelor party (5) BRAVE {B}{RAVE}

GRID

No 11453, Wednesday 22 Jul 2015, Exa

Exa seems to have visited many locals to guzzzle beer while setting this one.

ACROSS
1   Agent’s grudge against journalist showed (11) REPRESENTED {REP}{RESENT}{ED}
9   Green? It could make one number (7) INTEGER*
10 Fugitive paces around with drugs (7) ESCAPEE {PACES*}{EE}
11 Neighbour’s home is a delightful place (4) EDEN {E}{DEN} E for neighbour? See comments
12 Power affected sincere engineer — a remarkable power (10) PRESCIENCE {P}{SINCERE*}{CE}
13 Old family member dances to ragtime records (8) ANCESTOR [T] Nice telescopic. Didn't get it till the end
16 Sweet stall (5) FUDGE [DD]
17 Stores — vessel stores a constituent of draught beer (5) SHOPS {S{HOP}S}
19 Learner gears up in a contest with that which can improve concentration (8) EARPLUGS {L+GEARS+UP}*
21 Ain’t too bad entering pub in periods of stress (10) INTONATION {IN{AINT+TOO}*N}
23 Pledge bachelor beer in conversation (4) BAIL {B}{AIL}(~ale)
26 Scared if iceberg submerges house (7) EDIFICE [T]
27 Shooting model in bold setting (7) DARTING {DAR{T}ING}
28 Rate site URL exceptionally for printed materials (11) LITERATURES*

DOWN
1   Gather fresh air at a corner (5) RAISE {AIR*}{SE}
2   Pet bird demonstrated a standard way of moving (7) PATTERN {PAT}{TERN}
3   Lead editor’s aged at heart (4) EDGE {ED}{aGEd}
4   Beginners in empirical research role often repeat this mistake (5) ERROR Acrostic
5   Chest guard (9) TREASURER [CD]
6   Crafty cryptic FT clue I'd cracked by end of puzzle (9) DECEITFUL {FT+CLUE+I'D+p...lE}* Does the clue really indicate the E is part of the Anagram fodder? (Addendum - {DEC{p..lE}ITFUL*} - See comments)
7   Unwrapped a dictionary for writer to go through (6) OPENED {O{PEN}ED}
8   Runs into view that’s extremely nice and peaceful (6) SERENE {SE{R}E}{NicE}
14 Rock salt seen around island is indispensable (9) ESSENTIAL {ESSENT{I}AL*}
15 Questionable matter, hospital department’s medication (9) TREATMENT {MATTER}*{ENT}
17 Split a bit of strong beer (6) SWIPES {SWIPE}{St...g} Didn't know this was a Brit slang for Beer. (Addendum - SLIVER - {S}{LIVER} - See comments from Exa)
18 Acquire boat at sea that’s modern (6) OBTAIN {BOAT*}{IN}
20 Girl and I clear off a large block of ice (7) GLACIER {G}{I+CLEAR}*
22 Love Arden endlessly — right sort (5) ORDER {O}{aRDEn}{R}
24 Designs look great on some tops (5) LOGOS {LO}{G}{O}{S}
25 Twitter started contributing at an earlier time (4) ERST [T]

GRID

No 11424, Thursday 18 Jun 2015, Exa

ACROSS
1   Fifty-one beers laid out for free (11) LIBERALISED {LI+BEERS+LAID}*
9   Gone Girl in German (7) MISSING {MISS}{IN}{G}
10 Hounds with a deep voice guarding place (7) BASSETS {BAS{SET}S}

11 Right to wear cap in outing (4) TRIP {T{R}IP}
12 Knitted a little hem continuously (3,3,4) ALL THE TIME*
13 Out of nine, note the odd man out (3,2,3) ONE IN TEN*
16 Get old books for salesman (5) AGENT {AGE}{NT}
17 Offer to sell duck in apartment (5) FLOAT {FL{O}AT}
19 Parts of steel men forged (8) ELEMENTS*
21 Follow them in a luxurious car around East Course (4,6) ROLE MODELS {ROL{E} {MODE}LS}
23 Pound initially spent to see race (4) RUSH cRUSH
26 Language and some grammar at Highbrow (7) MARATHI [T]
27 Impressed by flight endlessly (7) STAMPED STAMPEDe
28 Amateurs talented? It's unusual (11) DILETTANTES*

DOWN
1   Deadline for student finishing off exam in IIT (5) LIMIT {L}{I{exaM}IT} Exa struck out!
2   Bachelor lad has it kept back for support (7) BASTION {BA{S{TI<=}ON}
3   Clear out of area with loot (4) RAID {R{A}ID}
4   Allowed girl in field to meet lover at the entrance (5) LEGAL {LE{G}A}{Lover}
5   This drug substitutes brown, cocaine and ecstasy (9) SUBSTANCE {SUBS}{TAN}{C}{E}
6   Reckless, like some spouses on television (9) DESPERATE [E&GK]
7   Choose month around Eid (6) DECIDE {DEC}{EID*}
8   Side view (6) ASPECT [DD]
14 Early to gather round a bar daughter suggested (9) INTIMATED {IN TIM{A}{T}E}{D}
15 Dull routine made exciting on entering a little tunnel's brook (9) TREADMILL {Tu...l}{R{MADE*}ILL}
17 Places to discuss documents for university to go through (6) FORUMS {FOR{U}MS}
18 Carry one litre with hesitation into very large tankers (6) OILERS {O{1}{L}{ER}S}
20 Heading off to play favourite instrument (7) TRUMPET {sTRUM}{PET}
22 Composer's last parting record (5) LISZT {LIS{Z}T}
24 Man has to show ID to see secret places (5) HIDES {H{ID}E}{S}
25 Brought up a little information (4) DATA {DAT}{A}<=

GRID

No 11395, Friday 15 May 2015, Exa

ACROSS
1   Part of composer's act (4) POSE [T]
3   They're employed by a prince in places needing renovation (10) APPLIANCES {A}{P}{IN+PLACES}*
10 I will return after beer, dancing and running, to show resistance (9) REBELLION {BEER}*{LLI<=}{ON}
11 Easily tempted by French beer I’m told (5) FRAIL {FR}{AIL}(~ale)
12 Love writer's content in verse for the first few lines (7) OPENERS {O}{PEN}{vERSe}
13 Wet site gets cleaned up during day (7) MOISTEN {MO{SITE}*N}
14 Has difficulty in breathing in vapour that’s extremely poisonous (5) GASPS {GAS}{Po...uS}
15 Illegitimate one acts up really frequently (7) NATURAL {oNe}{AcTs}{uP}{ReAlLy} Illegitimate or Legitimate? See comments
18 Cocktail (a cider) ordered after a bit of schmooze (7) SIDECAR {Sc...e}{A+CIDER}*

21 Poorly portrayed act — it can be refined (5) ANTIC* (Addendum - ATTIC* - See comments)
24 Birds found in huge quarries (7) OSPREYS {OS}{PREYS}

26 Stupid man barges in and makes a loud noise (7) CRASHES {CRAS{HE}S}
27 Sniffed bone belonging to Eddard Stark (5) NOSED NOS{Ed..rD} Anno pending (Addendum {N{OS}ED} - See comments)
28 Be rude and vulgar in speech/conversation (9) DISCOURSE {DIS}{COURSE}(~coarse)
29 A spare shed built for the leaders (10) SPEARHEADS*
30 Top shape (4) BEST ? (Addendum - BEAT [DD] - See comments)

DOWN
1   Drop an itinerant for free (6) PARDON*
2   Dipped in blue (9) SUBMERGED [CD]
4   Those displaying powers to hold rites legitimately (7) PRIESTS P{RITES}*S} &lit P'S for Powers?
5   American football player gets large home and title on retiring (7) LINEMAN {L}{IN}{EMAN<=}
6   A couple of fellows drunk caught in distress greatly (7) AFFLICT {A}{FF}{LI{C}T}
7   John will have hot water in between to sing a song (5) CHANT {C{H}AN}{waTer}
8   Listen properly to lady's tips without making any noise (8) SILENTLY {LISTEN}*{LadY}
9   Takes a nap in small, enjoyable places on vacation (6) SLEEPS  {SmalL}En...lE}{Pl...eS}
16 Chose rare variety animal for a contest (9) RACEHORSE*
17 Dazzles a model engaged in music (8) ASTOUNDS {A}{S{T}OUNDS}
19 Cold, unopened bar drinks he would down with cheese (7) CHEDDAR {C}{HE'D}{D}{bAR}
20 Rest like to live outside university (7) RESIDUE {RESID{U}E} Why LIKE ?
21 One taken to court after committing crime starts to get sued badly (7) ACCUSED {Af..r}{Co...g}{Cr..e}
22 Small duck wiping its bottom and top about in a vessel meant for brewing (6) TEAPOT {TEAl}{POT<=}
23 Insist upon a lock up (6) ASSERT {A}{SSERT<=}
25 Tapes wound with glue (5) PASTE*

GRID

No 11368, Tuesday 14 Apr 2015, Exa

HAPPY TAMIL NEW YEAR DAY

Exa has found me wanting for some annotations today. I'm stuck in Italy!  It's a pangram as well.

ACROSS
1   Disapproved of jerk, one unknown character whined about (10) CRITICIZED {CRI{TIC}{1}{Z}ED}
7   Face-off in a coffee bar (4) CAFE*
9 & 29 Ac. Turn substantial by gathering a percentage of income in top layouts (4,4,4) COME INTO PLAY [T]
10 Red crackers? Yes, in stock (6) CHEESY {CHE}{YES*}
11 A family shortly flying to a town in Italy (6) AMALFI {A}{FAMILy}*
12 Times a setter overdoses (7) PERIODS Anno pending (Addendum - {PER}{I}{ODS} - See comments)
14 Learner will be reading in lengths on the street to show skills (9) STRENGTHS {ST}{(-l+r)RENGTHS}
16 Tea set’s unfinished (4) CHAI CHAIn
18 Some starting trouble in voyage (4) SAIL {Some}{AIL}
19 See visions of Fast and Furious. Release date is finally due (9) FANTASISE {FAST+ANd}*{IS}{duE}
22 Pack a small guitar into Jack’s trunk - it’s needed to play songs (7) JUKEBOX {J}{UKE}{BOX} Don't see them nowadays now that records have become outdated
24 Character, after end of act, could be one to take a bow (6) ARCHER CHARactER*
27 Books written in French that daughter spoke of (6) QUOTED {QU{OT}E}{D}
28 Produce a variety of green tea (8) GENERATE*
29 See 9 Ac.
30 Not hard cutting an elm tree by end of day (10) ELEMENTARY {AN+ELM+TREE}*{daY}

DOWN
2   Give them some space! (9) ROOMMATES [CD] ?
3   Short post on the web over large tire design concept (5) T?E?L ? (Addendum - TWEEL {TWEEt}{L} - See comments)

4   Striking one that cheats with ruler (7) CONKING {CON}{KING}
5   Shoot found in animal garden on top of manure (4) ZOOM {ZOO}{Ma...e}
6   Month’s starting off with complimentary order (6) DECREE {DEC}{fREE}
7   Nouveau riche woman's treasures (9) CHERISHES {RICHE}*{SHE'S}
8   United take advantage of having cut through Fulham defenders initially (5) FUSED {Fu...m}{USE}{De...s}
13 A chief that’s leading (5) AHEAD {A}{HEAD}
15 Net yield very surprising clearly (9) EVIDENTLY {NET+YIELD+V}*
17 One investigating rotten corpse in time (9) INSPECTOR {CORPSE+IN+T}*
20 Learner’s coach is on drugs (7) TRAINEE {TRAIN}{E}{E}
21 Held up in battlefield — no friend to caress lovingly (6) FONDLE Anno pending [T<=] See comments
23 Guys run ably for seconds in routine (5) USUAL {gUyS rUn AbLy}
25 Trolley’s loaded with a unit of weight (5) CARAT {CAR{A}T}
26 Cow gorges often like a beast (4) OGRE {cOw GoRgEs}

No 11338, Tuesday 10 Mar 2015, Exa

ACROSS
1   Old man greedy every now and then (4) AGED {mAn}{GrEeDy}
3   Lovers endlessly drunk made contact with each other (10) OVERLAPPED {lOVERs}{LAPPED}
10 Notice tossed in vinegar say gets marked with a label (9) ADDRESSED {AD}{DRESSED}
11 Gather a couple of saris at first for mother to try on (5) AMASS {A}{MA}{SS}
12 Unfortunately fainted while demonstrating courage (7) DEFIANT*
13 Mentor goes through acute ache relief (7) TEACHER [T]
14 Come in for a dip keeping head out with hesitation (5) ENTER {dENT}{ER}
15 What's used as a religious setting on a piece of furniture (7) RETABLE {RE}{TABLE}

18 Dismissal of Mover cryptic starts to alarm locals (7) REMOVAL {MOVER*}{Al...m}{Lo...s}
21 Lead guy among others (5) CABLE [DD?] 
24 Latest CID: Daya goes about arresting junkies (7) ADDICTS [T<=]
26 Away from home, in the open, dies in battle (7) OUTSIDE {OUT}{DIES*}
27 Greasy sandwiches left out for one that stays up (5) FLOAT {F{L}{O}AT}
28 Originator of froth and aged rum (9) GODFATHER {FROTH+AGED}*
29 Country gets freedom without leader in the scenes (10) LANDSCAPES {LAND}{eSCAPES}
30 Employed American journalist (4) USED {US}{ED}

DOWN
1   They are won through a collection of draws (6) AWARDS {A}{DRAWS*}
2   Time to stop working for M (3,2,4) END OF TERM [DD]
4   Company impelling top model to wear protection for the face (7) VISITOR {VIS{Im...g}{T}OR}
5   Cod’s last in list for fisherman (7) RODSTER {RO{coD}STER}
6   First male soldier that’s completely determined (7) ADAMANT {ADAM}{ANT}
7   Old chap nervous to sink feet into wet ground (5) POACH {O+CHAP}*
8   Individual on the radio is careful to avoid social embarrassment (8) DISCREET (~discrete)
9   Stickler for accuracy training and working out before beginning of tournament (6) PEDANT {PE}{AND*}{To...t}
16 Doctor sees limb overcoming hard defects (9) BLEMISHES {BLEMIS{H}ES*}
17 Outrageous fine given to horribly rude lad (8) DREADFUL {DREAD{F}UL*}
19 Abandons cave as rocks start to tumble inside (7) VACATES {VACA{Tu...e}ES*}
20 Dang! A salad served up with pasta? (7) LASAGNA [T<=]
21 Cheese and jam taken with wine alternatively (7) CROWDIE {CROWD}{wInE}
22 Curious creature let out a harsh cry around desert (6) BETRAY {B{ET}RAY}
23 Agreed to become equipped (6) GEARED*
25 Overcome flood (5) DROWN [DD]

GRID