Spot vacant sweetshop where freemasons gather (7)
I believe the answer is:
splodge
'freemasons gather' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'spot vacant sweetshop' is the wordplay.
'spot' becomes 'stop' (stop is a kind of spot).
'vacant' suggests removing the centre (a vacant or emptied out form of the word).
'sweetshop' becomes 'lodge' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'stop' with its middle taken out is 'sp'.
'sp'+'lodge'='SPLODGE'
'where' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for splodge that I've seen before include "Dirty mark" , "Spot, splash, smear" , "Messy spot" , "Irregular blot" , "big splash" .)