Entertaining puzzle this.
Liked GRENOBLE, ATHEISTS, TATAMI, UTAHAN, ORDER not to mention the whimsical definitions in 8d and 24d. There seem to be quite a few proper nouns. I’m not sure if they are linked in some way or if there is more to them. If you see it, please add a comment.
Thanks Neo for brightening up a gloomy and rainy morning.
Definitions in clues marked like this
* anagram, + charade, – deletion, DD double definition, CD cryptic definition, H hidden, ~ homophone, <- reversal
ACROSS
1 Students on retreat surrender in colourful event (6) SUNBOW [students=NUS<- + surrender=BOW]
5 Manx horse impressive in European city (8) GRENOBLE [horse=GREy + impressive=NOBLE]
9 Satellite from Berlin is between rings! (8) CALLISTO [from Berlin is = IST inside ring=CALL + ring=O]
10 Party wearing dress in warehouse (6) GODOWN [party=DO inside dress=GOWN]
11 As retired, Conservative reportedly achieves enlightened state (6) SATORI [AS<- + ~conservative=TORY]
12 Daytime perhaps existing in Canadian location? (8) MONTREAL [day=MON + Time + existing=REAL]
14 On this, the GLC may provide bedwear (5-7) NIGHT-CLOTHES [ON THIS THE GLC]*
18 UK leopardess makes sound investment (12) LOUDSPEAKERS [UK LEOPARDESS]*
22 Man on river finds disreputable knight (8) FALSTAFF [river=FAL + man(v)=STAFF]
25 New apple approaching apple-pie order (6) NEATER [New + apple=EATER]
26 Soldier shot in mountainous region (6) GILEAD [soldier=GI + shot=LEAD]
27 Is first victim in Paris the wife for Edward? (8) ISABELLA [IS + first victim=ABEL + in Paris the=LA]
28 I hate false saints who don’t go much on religion (8) ATHEISTS [I HATE* + saints=STS]
29 Over in Yachimata, traditionally it’s underfoot (6) TATAMI [H<-]
DOWN
2 American University thanks Chinese native (6) UTAHAN [University + thanks=TA + Chinese native=HAN]
3 Graduate left, cooked noodle, piled on pounds (9) BALLOONED [graduate=BA + Left + NOODLE*]
4 President, shedding weight, available for post-prandial chore (7-2) WASHING-UP [president=WASHINGton + available=UP]
5 Grand mass in Capital Square requires ring (7) GROMMET [Grand + Mass inside capital=ROME + square=T]
6 English lord lines up drink (5) ELGIN [lines up=EL + drink=GIN]
7 Yellow and red reflected pattern (5) ORDER [yellow=OR + RED<-]
8 Maybe Isaac Newton runs after wife – old woman in pool (8) LAWMAKER [Wife + old woman=MA inside pool=LAKE + Runs]
13 Couple in Longleat Woods (3) TWO [H]
15 Spooner’s reason for getting home after hours? Be ready to surprise (3,2,4) LIE IN WAIT [~getting home after hours=WHY IN LATE]
16 Witness statement more than half-fabricated (9) TESTAMENT [STATE*MENT]
17 Scientist into bats suffers breakdown (8) BOTANIST [INTO BATS]*
19 Ancient god finds position (3) SET [DD]
20 Ace female just succeeded in business (7) AFFAIRS [Ace + Female + just=FAIR + Succeeded]
21 Dalziel’s letters quoted in broadcast confused situation (6) BEDLAM [~Dalziel=dee el=DL inside broadcast=BEAM]
23 Persistent attempt to gain historic seat (5) SIEGE [DD]
24 Scandinavians head down to centre in Peak District (5) ANDES [Scandinavians=DANES with D at the centre]
Thanks to Chalmie @ 3 for pointing out what I missed.
I thought the Elgins were Scottish lords, not English.
Certainly English in a very Scottish way 😀
A very entertaining puzzle as Bhavan says, with excellent technique. I enjoyed the ‘why in late’ joke, and the clever ATHEISTS clue most, but nice all round.
Well, there’s a nina. There’s also a nina of nina, but the main one is in the down columns. I misread it at first and didn’t understand its significance. Then I realised that the first column of the nina isn’t a single word. Fun stuff.
Lovely puzzle, inventive cluing – though stretched my vocab and general knowledge somewhat. Thanks Neo and Bhavan.
Ah yes: thank you Chalmie.
In Utah they prefer to write and pronounce Utahn though this machine underlines it as wrong.
Not in Collins, they don’t.
Apologies to Lord Elgin there.
But most of all thanks to all who’ve posted, and to Bhavan especially for a great blog. I’m glad you enjoyed this one.
Yeah1 Neo rocks!
Thanks Bhavan and Neo, best of the day’s puzzles IMO. GILEAD defeated me.
Glad that Elgin is back in Scotland again, I was getting worried there for a while.
Thanks Neo and Bhavan
Agree that this was a very interesting puzzle that needed chipping away at to get it done. The nina passed me by – and am with that sentiment as well.
Finished in the NE corner with the unusual UTAHAN the last one in. SUNBOW was new, as was ‘prandial’.
Thought that CALLISTO was very clever and enjoyed the LIE IN WAIT Spoonerism.