The Independent Crossword December 18, 2022
Across
| Nice here in secretive island | SICILY |
| Exciting to return 50% of wealth | ELECTRIC |
| Bridge odds on two queens | SPANNER |
| Dawn insures building | SUNRISE |
| Consumes escalope after turtle soup for starters | EATS |
| Let bloke from Bow attach architectural feature | IMPEDIMENT |
| Lower River Test cutting | DEMOTE |
| Extends contract and steps down | RESIGNS |
| Friends in bars discussed people behind bars | INMATES |
| Green bananas the beginning of your vitality | ENERGY |
| Top wine collection mentioned in book? | BESTSELLER |
| Split taps work | CHOP |
| Joy of endless intimacy | ELATION |
| Impact of Tory diplomacy | CONTACT |
| Beach borders start of terribly unproductive land | SETASIDE |
| Schumann’s opening surprisingly lofty for piano | SOFTLY |
Down
| Grounds to invest in South America | SUSPENDS |
| Female replaces husband in conglomeration of merchants and artisans | CRAFTSMEN |
| Fast or slow having nothing to lose | LENT |
| Former magazine auditor | LISTENER |
| Demands trains | CONDITIONS |
| Suggest upgrade to rear lift | RAISE |
| Reacts badly in icy run | CRESTA |
| It doesn’t pay to upset America endlessly | CRIME |
| Cooks joints in vessels | STEAMSHIPS |
| Tricky opponents on Tyneside? | NORTHEAST |
| Rested, having marked out playing field earlier | RECLINED |
| Understanding myth pays off | SYMPATHY |
| Kisses Boris bottling up torment | OBSESS |
| Remarkably cheap fruit | PEACH |
| Elegant form of transport on the rise | SMART |
| Cancel a French party | UNDO |
