Crossword Genius

Scruffy notice on vacated distillery (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

seedy

'scruffy' is the definition.
('seedy' can be a synonym of 'scruffy')

'notice on vacated distillery' is the wordplay.
'notice' becomes 'see' (I've seen this before).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'vacated' means to remove the middle letters.
'distillery' with its middle removed is 'dy'.
'see'+'dy'='SEEDY'

(Other definitions for seedy that I've seen before include "Sordid and disreputable" , "Run-down, squalid" , "Like some cakes" , "sickly" , "Raspberry jam might be" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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