Cryptic crossword No 578

Not completed yet, but... (spoilers in reply)

Thanks Drummond, another super puzzle. Possibly spoilers in reply...

Great puzzle, Drummond. I am really impressed with the quality of the surfaces, and the balance you are able to make between them and the natural way the solutions come out. Favourites are: 9A, 15A, 20A, 23A, 3D, 6D, 19D and 23D.

Well after finding your previous one tough, I surprised myself by breezing through this (don't tell me you made it deliberately easier 😁). FOI was 1a which gave me a massive headstart. Some fabulous clueing there, really liked 9a, 12a, 27a, 28a, 5d, 6d and 24d. Spoilerish additional comments in the Reply!

Excellent work Drummond! A gentle but very satisfying puzzle to solve with lots of great clues. Particularly impressed with some of the anagrams. Hard to pick favourites but: 1A,13A, 23A, 25A, 28A, 5D (lol), 21D.

Lovely puzzle! Lots of smooth satisfying surfaces. 18a my favourite!

Thanks for the puzzle Drummond, that really was rather good! A very satisfying challenge with a ton of ingenuity and lovely variety in construction. I particularly liked 9a (fun surface), 10a (another smooth, fun surface), 18a (neat), 23a (clean), 26a (a lovely CD), 27a (fun), 28a (very clean), 1d (quite clever), 6d (COTD, nicely constructed), 16d, 21d, 22d and 24d. Well done!

Hi Drummond. Neither surprised nor disappointed to find this is at the standard of your previous puzzles with splendid surfaces and some creative clueing. Particular favourites/stand outs; 9a (and it's rare I podium one of those), 15a, 20a (lovely deception), 23a, 25a (delicious!), 26a (technically clever), 1d (very innovative), 4d, 8d (nice surface), 16d (simple and clean) and 23d (another!). Really good stuff of the highest order. Spoilers in reply. Thanks. PM

Hi Drummond, another very good puzzle, thank you. I thought 9a and 23d v good. Really liked 6d 16d 19d 10a 12a and 28a. Thanks