Crossword Genius

Hint pub needs to open around middle of September (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

innuendo

'hint' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'pub needs to open around middle of september' is the wordplay.
'pub' becomes 'inn' (I've seen this before).
'needs' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'to open' becomes 'undo' (I've seen this before).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'middle of' says to take the centre.
The middle of 'september' is 'e'.
'undo' placed around 'e' is 'uendo'.
'inn'+'uendo'='INNUENDO'

(Other definitions for innuendo that I've seen before include "Aspersion" , "hint" , "Indirect remark" , "suggestive remarks" , "suggested" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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