This crossword No. 22700 clues and answers were published on Wed 11 Dec 2002 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22700 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Set sailor free : ABSOLUTE
5-across – Rough butcher has no time for baby-faced child : CHERUB
9-across – Acorn set to become start of tree : ANCESTOR
10-across – Country where I’m a lawbreaker? : MALAWI
11-across – Cool, pale source of illumination : FANLIGHT
12-across – Girl almost has a leg in each side : ASTRID
14-across – Birds nesting in some high places : PARTRIDGES
18-across – Bringing up workers in a religious environment : APICULTURE
22-across – Italian city in a police state : NAPOLI
23-across – American whose job is on the line : ENGINEER
24-across – Italian setting for gentlemen lovers : VERONA
25-across – The main threat to Venice: mad raid by heartless Greek : ADRIATIC
26-across – Ulster in turmoil for five years : LUSTRE
27-across – Islands more or less in the Caribbean : ANTILLES
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – A duchess’s place at Italian resort : AMALFI
2-down – One who got the silver back : SECOND
3-down – Girl told to come home : LASSIE
4-down – Eat hotpots rehashed – then use this : TOOTHPASTE
6-down – Top post! It’s the Admiral’s : HEADSHIP
7-down – Mad behaviour of people on the way : ROADRAGE
8-down – Drinking song sung on the 25? : BRINDISI
13-down – Old reptile flying near to pond : PTERANODON
15-down – Notting Hill’s, perhaps, can rival Rio’s : CARNIVAL
16-down – Place of ups and downs for the traveller : AIRPORTS
17-down – Joyce was one name on ship : DUBLINER
19-down – State car used by Italian resort : RIMINI
20-down – Bats in strange lament : MENTAL
21-down – They’re ruined!, said the King : WRECKS
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.