Weekend Quick Cryptic 60 - Solution

My fellow TimesforTheTimes contributors Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce Quick Cryptic crosswords to fill the gap left by the Saturday Times not having one. The plan is for us to take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's Phil's turn. 

You can find a link to the crossword here and the answers below. Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on TfTT. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here.

Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.

Hints...

Some hints and tips:

• The old instrument is a percussion instrument from Egyptian times.
• You need to separate "your old setter".
• The drink is non-alcoholic.

And click on this label to get the solution.

Solution and explanation of the answers...

Definitions underlined in bold italics, (Abc)* indicating anagram of Abc,  {deletions} and [] other indicators.

Across

1 George initially approves of death scene (7)

GALLOWS – G{eorge} [initially] ALLOWS (approves).

5 Make fast escape (4)

BOLT – Double Definition.

7 Church garment in royal blue (3)

ALB – Hidden in royAL Blue. “A white vestment reaching to the feet, worn by clergy and servers in some Christian Churches.”

8 Place to sleep by river for rodent (8)

DORMOUSE – DORM (place to sleep) OUSE (river which flows through York formed from the comfluence of the rivers Ure and Swale).

10 Make a quick getaway from Adriatic resort (5)

SPLIT – Double definition, the second being the second largest city in Croatia (see here).

11 Start a row when the game begins (4,3)

KICK OFF – Double definition.

13 Colour of chopped mixed oregano (6)

ORANGE – [mixed] (oregan{o})* [chopped].

15 Play the part of a bird? Get away! (4,2)

BEAT IT – BE (play the part of) A TIT (bird).

17 Old instrument one's recalled to play casually (7)

SISTRUM –  I (one)’S [recalled] -> SI, STRUM, play casually. “A musical instrument of the percussion family, chiefly associated with ancient Egypt”. Read about it here.

18 Herb for your old setter (5)

THYME – THY (your, as designated in olden times) ME (setter). “Your old setter”. Ha ha!

20 Untrue that tenors often initially sing thus! (8)

FALSETTO – FALSE (untrue) That Tenors Often [initially]. But sometimes when, like me, they can’t hit the high notes any more.

22 Fellow fails to finish drink (3)

CHA – CHA{p} (fellow) [fails to finish].

23 Finally addicts won back cocaine (4)

SNOW – [Finally] addictS, WON [back] -> NOW.

24 Ukrainian horseman leaves before dismissal (7)

COSSACK – COS (salad leaves) SACK (dismissal).

Down

1 Old army punishment centre - a hotspot? (10)

GLASSHOUSE – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint.

2 Clearly mark endless ballet dancing (5)

LABEL – [endless] (balle{t})* [dancing].

3 Experienced type sold great cocktail (3,6)

OLD STAGER – (sold great)* [cocktail].

4 Industrial action a success in alley (6)

STRIKE – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint referring to ten-pin bowling.

5 Show displeasure with prohibition? No thanks! (3)

BOO – {ta}BOO [forbidden activity] without the TA (thanks).

6 The Spanish ticket agent missed the boat (4,3)

LOST OUT – LOS (the in Spanish) TOUT (ticket agent).

9 Inaccurate beginning (3,3,4)

OFF THE MARK – Double definition.

12 Bad reactions to artistic works (9)

CREATIONS – [bad] (reactions)*.

14 Sailor Mark to eschew alcohol (7)

ABSTAIN – AB (Able Bodied seaman, sailor) STAIN (mark).

16 In crushed ice, encountered something sickening (6)

EMETIC – MET (encountered) [in] [crushed] (ice)*.

19 Initially your unpleasant cousin called around for this plant (5)

YUCCA – First letters [initially] of Your Unpleasant Cousin Called Around.

21 We start to stand up and wield a needle (3)

SEW – WE, [start to] S{tand}, [up] -> SEW.