More than half pubs and clubs of Essex flourishing (2,6,2)

I believe the answer is:

in excess of

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'more than' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'half pubs and clubs of essex flourishing' is the wordplay.
'half pubs' becomes 'in' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'flourishing' is an anagram indicator (letters grow or flourish differently).
'c'+'of'+'essex'='cofessex'
'cofessex' with letters rearranged gives 'excessof'.
'in'+'excessof'='IN EXCESS OF'

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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