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This week's Everyman seems to have a different feel to it, with no rhyming pairs and fewer anagrams.

Still, I'm not complaining - it keeps us on our toes:-)

At first I thought there was a Christmas feel to it but looking at it again it's just a more food and drink feel!

FOI was 2d - you'll see why!

I know I always say this but this time I'm sure that this week's puzzle is more difficult than usual.

If you do get stuck there are two long anagrams in the downs and a long anagram in the acrosses (but that needs a letter removed).

Thanks to Everyman for a fun and enjoyable crossword.

Merry Christmas to all the Everyman solvers.

Stay safe:-)

Started very late and did well until I got stuck in the SW quadrant. So I watched Ma Rainey on Netflix instead. (Excellent). Went back to SW and used a bit more savvy to complete. FOI 11a. COD possibly 16d. Enjoyable distraction while summoning up the bottle to do yesterday's Christmas Prize.

Really enjoyed this! Some brilliant surfaces and nicely composed anagrams. FOI 5d and a candidate for COD, but I give that honour to 23ac for the simplicity of it.

12ac had me reaching for Chambers to check, and then a wry smile when I realised what Everyman did there.

Nice.

It initially seemed impenetrable but that 2d opened it all up quite nicely.

Only one left now - 27a. Got the second word, but the overall is something that I doubt I've ever come across (being purely a beer lover!). I suspect possibly something fruity?

Hi Alzy, hi Richard, hi Smot,

I particularly liked 12a "hippy if you will" - excellent.

I also liked 16d but would have preferred it the clue sad "within" rather than "with".

27a - Fruity indeed - yummy:-)

Was stumped for ages as I could not get any across clues until FOI 17a. (Yes I know, I do the across clues first...). Stared at many for ages, especially SW corner. Then a few fell into place. The food and drink theme helped. LOI 18d. COD i agree with RichardK on 23a, lovely, but I will opt for 24d, don't know why. Thought 26a was awful. Enjoyed 27a. The theme is setting my tummy rumbling so off to breakfast. Merry Christmas all, if it can be, do your best and stay safe.

16d - Apologies to Everyman - it says "with Greek character about" so my mistake.

Thanks Brendan - finished now!

Here's wishing you all a great Christmas :-) (even if, in the words of Mud, it'll be lonely).

Fun puzzle. 27a was my favourite, for the penetration in seeing it.

I thought "being...hairy" was very loose for 16d, particularly as not all are.

I'm missing 3 letters from the parse of 10d - the first 3 of the 2nd word. Any suggestions?

Morning all,
Found that to be a very quick solve, and on the easier side compared to recent weeks. Funny how experiences differ. Agree it had a slightly different feel to normal. Liked that all the outside clues have a cocktail theme even though two turn out to be something different. And there were two cocktails last week as I recall ;)