Cryptic crossword No 2,088

Hi Guinevere, I liked the theme and a lot of clues in this puzzle. In particular, 30, 31 and 19 stood out. Spoilers follow.

Hello & welcome Guinevere! I thought this was a 'cracking' first puzzle on here, although surely not your first ever. Solid wordplay and meaningful, pretty crisp surfaces. I especially enjoyed 6d, 15a, 18d, 1d, and 2d. Some spoilers in my reply...

Hi Guinevere. I really enjoyed this too, particularly 1a, 10a, 15a, 16a, 24a and 2d, 9d, 18d. I like to be amused by clues (and for them not to be too hard :-) I thought the use of hic was a bit unfair, and 'ard/hard is not really "a lot". I also don't understand why Be=Operate and didn't like the cocking up in 6d. Also don't think that 25d really works.

Really enjoyable. Welcome to the party! I very much liked 11a (see below) 15a and 14d. Spoilers …

Welcome Guinevere. I liked a lot of this. It was going swimmingly in the top half but got a bit bogged down in the bottom, needing a few reveals. I agree with most of the feedback already received so won't add to it. My faves were 15a, 1d, 2d, 6d and 22d. Looking forward to more from you!

Thank you so much for all the really helpful and constructive feedback! I feel very fortunate and grateful to you all! I can't amend the puzzle, sadly, but will post my updated clues here - again, feedback very welcome! (slight amendment) 11A Spooner claims former PM jails snappers, 20A First sign of carnal knowledge about chick unsheathed pecker, 24A Draw cat into artworks (I am aware this is controversial...), cont. below...

4a very cool. Also, I learned a lot of new words here, thanks.

I will join the party, late as usual. While I ground to a halt in the SW corner, this was really enjoyable and I found I'd put a lot of ticks - 11a, 15a, 16a, 20a (which Paul of the Grauniad would have enjoyed), 21a, 24a, 2d, 8d, 17d, 18d, 23d, 27d. Like others, I disliked the cocking in 6d and I didn't think 7d really worked, although the wordplay was so clear I got the answer. A couple of spoilery comments in reply.

I join Gollum in a) being late to this b) enjoying it and c) grinding to a halt in the SW corner. Welcome to the site, Guinevere. An accomplished debut. More please. Faves inc 1a, 15a, 16a, 1d, 5d and 9d. Thanks. PM

Clues updated! Hooray! Have amended most of those with feedback - a few I have decided should stay as they are - eg as a couple of other people are happy to defend ‘hic’ as an involuntary movement, I’m sticking with it as it’s a much more satisfying surface that way! Thanks so much again!

Thanks Guinevere & welcome. Lots to enjoy here, my fave was 6d and ticks for 15a, 16a, 1d, 19d & 23d. Your updates for 11a, 24a, 29a, 5d, 14d & 17d are all improvements too. As PM notes, you do already have plenty of good feedback but as you seem to be in the market for constructive criticism, I'll add my tuppenceworth in spoilery comments below ... though feel free to ignore my pedantry if you've had enough already!

Great start. Keep it up

Very late to the party but I got it done eventually, Guinevere, and I had the benefit of tackling the puzzle after your edits. Well done on such an impressive debut; I particularly liked a number of the snappier clues: 15a, 16a, 24a, 6d 9d, 17d, 19d and 23d. And of course I really enjoyed 1d! Spoilers …