Spectator N0 2499

[Matakari]

Hello, some assistance/hints would be appreciated for the following, thanks.

1( A) It regulates pressure in pub with drunken toast (8): ??????I?
23(A) Hunters having time with rustler abroad (8) :I????E??
40(A) Vessels, many carrying no good snake (9) : ??????A??

7(D) Cloth dry and sharp for dresser (11, two words): ???????A???
14(D) Those arriving later sat in top trains (8) :P?S???T?
16(D) With flowing Nile coming up, getting in a row (11) : ?I???R?????
27(D) Weak step around a ruined place in Scotland (7) : ?A?T???

[Neveracrossword]

1 A usual word for 'pub' with anagram (drunken) of toast.

23 Anagram of a seven-letter word with T added.

14 Anagram, resulting in an odd word.

16 a 7-letter word for 'coming up' after an anagram of Nile.

[Matakari]

Many thanks, NACW! Still looking at 7(D), though!

[novalis]

7d - a 5 letter material + the usual 2 letter abbreviation for dry + a 4 letter word meaning sharp. The whole is an item of furniture which Chambers Word Wizard shows as hyphenated rather than 2 separate words.

[scorpiojo]

40 3 letter word meaning many around first letters of no good, and a 3 letter snake.

[bobbinwales]

Yes big vessels from hundreds of years ago

[Matakari]

Thanks, Novalis!

[Neveracrossword]

Glad we could help, Matakari. This was an excellent puzzle, I enjoyed nibbling away at the thematic elements.

[Matakari]

I still have a bit to go before I can visualise the theme. I put it down for a while and am now back at it...it should be interesting to get on the trail of the theme!

[novalis]

9 down is a massive pointer to the theme.

[Neveracrossword]

There, Matakari - that big hint should help! I thought this might be your week, but...

[elliemay1]

27d seen as wastage