| Clues across |
| 1 | Gangs go sailing, we hear (5) |
| 4 | Starts swallowing disputed thick drinks (9) |
| 9 | “Hearty clutching crushed haw is drowning in debts!” Ay, I’m listening, but taking no notice (1,4,4,3,3) |
| 10 | American state blots out city (7) |
| 11 | Church, otherwise a London district (7) |
| 12 | Church suffering dearth in American state (9) |
| 15 | It is not colloquial here (5) |
| 16 | Hippy? (5) |
| 18 | A plotter (not Tory) is a sucker (9) |
| 21 | After reformation, Ken’s ready for parliament (7) |
| 22 | Urge boss to find brainy chap (7) |
| 25 | Flattening demure girl’s plant (7,8) |
| 26 | Ken longed to change animal’s retreat (3,6) |
| 27 | It turned round and went in front covered in slabs (5) |
|
| Clues down |
| 1 | Hundred on branch? Get up there! (5) |
| 2 | Gray tiles scattered around, for example (7) |
| 3 | Walk like this in street with furrow cut by traffic (5) |
| 4 | Learner establishes church in upper room (7) |
| 5 | Sight-related check almost set in stone (7) |
| 6 | Tandem or sofa, possibly (3-6) |
| 7 | Maintains: “Sin sits in error” (7) |
| 8 | ‘M’, say, seen in mess party, drunk (9) |
| 12 | Attractive girl to root out garden pest (9) |
| 13 | Essex vice could be too much (9) |
| 14 | Girl loses head – idiot! (3) |
| 17 | Grebe, circling, holds up danger to shipping (7) |
| 18 | Eating well-chewed nuts? Initially it stimulates resistance to bacteria (7) |
| 19 | Chesty, like more than one around start of evening (7) |
| 20 | One leaf short of being lucky? (7) |
| 23 | State: “Stomach turns over!” Is it the range? (5) |
| 24 | Fear’s passed over? That’s about right! (5) |
|
