This crossword No. 21697 clues and answers were published on Wed 22 Sep 1999 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 21697 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Don’t start to gamble – take your client’s money : PECULATE
5-across – Cut the grass round the pub for the little drinker? : MINNOW
9-across – Continent, not island, shortly to be put in geography book : ATLANTIS
10-across – Composer’s church work fashionable? : CHOPIN
11-across – Art possessor in town with belt? : CHASTITY
12-across – Gambler gives money to the Irish queen : PUNTER
14-across – Suggestion to relative following river through Kentish town : HYPOTHESIS
18-across – See 23 : LEADTOROME
22-across – Setter’s reversing manoeuvre to provide a job : EMPLOY
23-across – Autostradas’ radiation is implied in every way by metal : ALLROADS
24-across – The last state may fruit with the first two… : HAWAII
25-across – …unpaid: nothing for the singer at its head : HONOLULU
26-across – King to be : MARKET
27-across – : RESEARCH
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Caper in which Pope’s head – was head – of the national church : PRANCE
2-down – Fair bit of hair – depending on neck size? : COLLAR
3-down – : LENGTH
4-down – First of Walter Mitty’s turns: provide defence and make me conform : TWISTMYARM
6-down – It includes something of a concession, no less? You don’t surprise me : ITHOUGHT
7-down – How I ensure mine’s top? : NEPOTISM
8-down – Don’t go straight at rapid pace through the Cotswolds : WINDRUSH
13-down – Races for spinner in which one’s performing : FORMULAONE
15-down – A student at studios in Hertfordshire : ALDENHAM
16-down – With the services a fellow might have had a commission : MANPOWER
17-down – Belladonna produced work of art? Say what you think : ATROPINE
19-down – Love among the olive trees? Is this a record? : GROOVE
20-down – Beast painted by Kipling and loved by Precott : JAGUAR
21-down – See 6 : ASMUCH
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.