Across:
1 In retrospect (= reversal indicator), writer (ed = D-E) goes around eatery (café = -EFAC-) (DEFACE) with Sully (sully/damage = DEFACE),
4 New (= anagram indicator) bus decor (bus decor = OBSCURED) goes unnoticed (OBSCURED),
9 Tiny portrait lying on the chest (portrait/photo in LOCKET) as a reminder – just in case! (LOCKET = case for mementos),
10 Supporter (fan = F- -AN) welcomes Nice forecast (nice forecast = sunny) starting off (s) (‘sunny’ without ‘s’ = -UNNY) from Frenchman (Monsieur = M-) (FUNNY MAN) – an amusing fellow (FUNNY MAN),
12 Going easy on leaders (‘Going Easy On’ leaders = GEO-) from most (s) hot spots (‘tropics’ without ‘s’ = -TROPIC) (GEOTROPIC) accounting for the ups and downs of plants (GEOTROPIC),
13 The Hacienda (RANCH) handled (RAN-) two types of drugs (cocaine and heroin = C + H = -CH) (RANCH),
14 One of today’s fly-by-night bloodsuckers perhaps (COUNT DRACULA) typically found in 18 across (COUNT DRACULA found in “ghost stories”)
18 Those in 27 across (‘ghosts’ = GHOST S-) could be the British politicians (-TORIES) (GHOST STORIES) giving some the fright of their lives tonight, October 31st (GHOST STORIES),
21 Deputies die off (‘deputies’ without ‘die’ = eputs = UPSET) and it causes distress (UPSET),
22 It’s closely connected (RELEVANCE) to mixing up (= anagram indicator) car eleven (car eleven = RELEVANCE),
24 Those in The Pod (PEAS-) lose the head (r) with angry outbursts (‘rants’ without ‘r’ = -ANTS) (PEASANTS) from old workers (PEASANTS),
25 A piece of material sown into a garment (GUSSET) for guest’s (guests) dress (= anagram indicator) (guests = GUSSET),
26 A Reuter’s (a Reuters) misprint (= anagram indicator) (a Reuters = TREASURE) – I’d dig a hole to conceal that! (TREASURE),
27 Spirits (GHOSTS) of great (G-) party leaders (-HOSTS) (GHOSTS).
Down:
1 The committee (DELEGACY) of French (of = DE-) inheritance (-LEGACY) (DELEGACY),
2 Short (r) feature (‘factor’ without ‘r’ = FACTO-) with tips from the utility man (tips from ‘The Utility Man’ = TUM) (FACTOTUM) or jack of all trades (FACTOTUM),
3 Heretic loses it (‘heretic’ loses ‘it’ = herec = CHEER) with Joy (CHEER),
5 Lively sort (BOUNCY) on the board (CASTLE on chess board) (BOUNCY CASTLE) is full of gas at the present time and deflated afterwards (BOUNCY CASTLE),
6 New (= anagram indicator) cartoon (cartoon = CONTRA-O) accommodates soldier (lieutenant = -LT-) (CONTRALTO) with singing voice (CONTRALTO),
7 Take one back (REMIND one) for short (i) dress (‘mini’ without ‘i’ = -MIN-) in red (RE-D) (REMIND),
8 Hotel (-H-) in poorly lit (dingy/gloomy = DING-Y) (DINGHY) part of the marina (DINGHY),
11 One of those in the media talking about the club (SPORTSWRITER) – the one reporting the fights (one of those reporting the fights/boxing = SPORTSWRITER),
15 Bowler (hat = TAH-) knocks back (= reversal indicator) Asti in (asti in = -ITIANS) cocktail (= anagram indicator) (TAHITIANS) from South Pacific (TAHITIANS),
16 Spike (PI-N-) welcomes a (-A-) number of honours from university (firsts = 1STS = - ISTS) (PIANISTS) for the musicians (PIANISTS),
17 A (A-) few letters of distress (-S-OS) about the greatest footballer (-BEST-) (ASBESTOS) with a mineral that’s not very fiery (ASBESTOS is a fire-resistant mineral),
19 In France where (French ‘where’ = OU-) time (-T-) and place (-PUT) (OUTPUT) is a measurement of one’s economic value (OUTPUT),
20 The property of the gentry (ESTATE) in England (E-) and Ireland (-STATE) (ESTATE),
23 Bear witness to (VOUCH) midwives’ (mid ‘wiVes’ = V-) expression of pain (-OUCH) (VOUCH).