December 2021 Puzzles and Solutions

Across

• 1 Cards to be played with by Henry (4)
• 3 Whimper loudly for booze (5)
• 7 Granny maybe returned 2240 pounds and another thousand (4)
• 8 Call one inn about pasta (10)
• 9 "Retreat!" "Never!" "All right"! (4)
• 12 Green royals' alternative renewable? (5,6)
• 13 Starts to open its nostrils knowingly and finally emits grunts (5)
• 15 Twelve sleep lightly and endlessly (5)
• 19 Nervy as I ran around wedding celebration (11)
• 21 Location? It's in the Home Counties (4)
• 23 Putting up with foolish behaviour (10)
• 24 A bit of glitz in glamorous pizzazz (4)
• 25 Polish your head, dear! (5)
• 26 Still regular (4)

Down

• 1 US co-op gets embroiled in such devilish skulduggery (5-5)
• 2 Dr Spooner's soldiers concealed a European country (7)
• 3 Almost fully fit, the German metalworker (6)
• 4 Pressed De Niro to perform (6)
• 5 Digital supremo is making it go further (5)
• 6 Hitherto outsiders teamed up with extremely blotto vagabond (4)
• 10 Australia welcomes the old town crier's announcement (4)
• 11 Doctor, I yanked Ben to find a pulse (6,4)
• 14 Organized and excellent for Americans (4)
• 16 Shameless ex-pupil's environment (7)
• 17 Undercover broody type has identity ultimately exposed (6)
• 18 Use of French gambit (6)
• 20 No, we hear the horse's cry (5)
• 22 Flag is raised in state capitals (4)