8  To begin with, read Plato - irregular guard? (6)

 9  E-mail perhaps - a considerable distance (1,4,3)

10 Appeals for a flower to render delight (8)

11 Breakfast food’s nice, really - to an extent (6)

12 With the Queen's money for a job that needs doing (6)

13 Pairs wine and fish - acts a role on the stage (8)

14 Unknown in stores’ sorting - these fruits of the sea (7)

16 Politician in sleet-storm - where worshippers meet? (7)

20 City gent's tea - whence Quixote did come? (2,6)

23 Spirit for Mark and latterly, bounty (6)

25 Force dreadful polemic - in which number one's missed (6)

26 21's hotel – refurbished - had beasts two by two (4'1.3)

27 Making a mess? Manipulate rubber (8)

28 Left and aroused, when Charlie's decamped (6)

 2  Weapon advertisement on a nautical fleet (6)

 3  Fish fighting - foul end, when faced with resistance (8)

 4  Right, average highs – nights out for the clubber (4-3)

 5  Crab-claw's made nicer - appears on the page (6)

 6  Sign of a cry - apt order revamped? (8)

 7  Not working, a learner's unknown in a county (6)

15 Gin on piano - it's out for he who keeps mum (8)

17 Hugs pairs who are placed with a reflection of me (8)

18 Backed red nose clowning - finally, hard (8)

19 Artist and playwright – with a supplement (7)

21 Nerd who's not great over kangaroo stewing (6)

22 Chartered accountant to haul back and enlist (4-2)

24 Doctor is able – drop on line from a height? (6)