This crossword No. 22581 clues and answers were published on Thu 25 Jul 2002 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 22581 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Strange plea about standard in dress : APPAREL
5-across – Letter of introduction? No, the other way round : DEARSIR
9-across – Spike’s number in the programme : PRONG
10-across – I keep students in after fling, as rebuke : CASTIGATE
11-across – Evening suit for places of entertainment : NIGHTCLUBS
12-across – Timber trade : DEAL
14-across – A warning to stop the plantation of trees : FORESTATION
18-across – Eg Get the letters moving! has money associated with it : POSTALORDER
21-across – Drive away – no parking for the dance : REEL
22-across – Shutting up one politician undoing reforms : IMPOUNDING
25-across – Bird enclosure placed for defending from retaliation : TITFORTAT
26-across – Loose relative loses head : UNTIE
27-across – Unions in dispute about small particle : FUSIONS
28-across – Chats freely about rings in collusion : CAHOOTS
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Put university course in and hang on : APPEND
2-down – Fail exam in Agriculture? : PLOUGH
3-down – Ramblers require it, of course : RIGHTOFWAY
4-down – Half allocation drunk in the pub : LOCAL
5-down – Tar in neglected surroundings put right : DISABUSED
6-down – It’s of a similar nature in the making : AKIN
7-down – Do without ridicule at the cut : SPARERIB
8-down – Possibly resign about 51, because of drink? : RIESLING
13-down – Thus one shows agreement, more or less : FAIRENOUGH
15-down – We dig together, but not in the garden : ROOMMATES
16-down – Drink provided to support pirate at sea : APERITIF
17-down – TA bosses arranged protection against fire : ASBESTOS
19-down – Place to order drink and/or bits anyway : BISTRO
20-down – Departure, for example, remains untimed : EGRESS
23-down – Viewer’s measure of the spirit : OPTIC
24-down – Traveller’s game : POLO
This crossword has in total 30 where 14 are across and 16 are down.