This crossword No. 27396 clues and answers were published on Wed 03 Jan 2018 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 27396 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Where habitual drinker goes, suffering a loss, too? : INTOTHEBARGAIN
8-across – Plant that comes with strings attached : VIOLA
9-across – Better rail transport brought back, impossible earlier : OUTSMART
11-across – Little piggy sheltering at home with old ram : RUNINTO
12-across – Soldier in country area, Italian student centre : PERUGIA
13-across – More cunning Times puzzle ultimately rejected : EXTRA
15-across – Colour of prince’s blood? : ROYALBLUE
17-across – Chart for walker’s aid, mountains and plains primarily added : RELIEFMAP
20-across – Antique from ancient city, one with firm casing : CURIO
21-across – Distressed tenor given a wigging : TEARFUL
23-across – Thieves pinching 50 speakers : TALKERS
25-across – Steep terrace unoccupied behind mooring area : MARINATE
26-across – Book — almost completely useless … : ALBUM
27-across – … novel by Sitwell and an ex-PM : STANLEYBALDWIN
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Spineless type upset by puppy in middle of speech : INVERTEBRATE
2-down – Hospital injection needed in wrenched spine : THORN
3-down – Food from buffet car? This won’t normally cover it : TRAINFARE
4-down – CO cuts route devised for green excursion : ECOTOUR
5-down – Engineer, say, up to late examination : AUTOPSY
6-down – Grouse, perhaps beginning to rant with more spirit : GAMER
7-down – Unofficial Irish king holding a gun up : IRREGULAR
10-down – How a username is arranged for storekeeper? : WAREHOUSEMAN
14-down – Distinguish between lines embraced by far right group — almost : TELLAPART
16-down – Phone contact habitual drinker often makes? : LOCALCALL
18-down – Macho guards fighting Trojans et al : MALWARE
19-down – Fuss over British cook’s seasoning : POTHERB
22-down – Counterfeit offering — any odd bits must go : FEIGN
24-down – Bowler not right to bend it? : ELBOW
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.