Across:
8 Starting trouble (starting ‘trouble’ = T-) and argument (-ROW-) with band (belt) at The Centre (el) (‘belt’ at the centre = -EL) (TROWEL) – it’s what Mason has to handle (TROWEL),
9 Cuts some (cuts some = COSTUMES) slack (= anagram indicator) to the outfits (COSTUMES),
10 First mate has no taste (‘first mate’ has no ‘taste’ = firm = FIRM) for one of the solids (FIRM),
11 Make every effort (DO ONE’S BEST) as Odeon’s (Odeon’s = DO ONE’S) playing (= anagram indicator) premiere (‘premiere’ = ‘premier’ = BEST), in a manner of speaking (= homophone indicator) (DO ONE’S BEST),
12 Ship factory has no craft (‘ship factory’ has no ‘craft’ = shipoy = PHYSIO) job for a hands-on type of person (PHYSIO),
14 Bordeaux wine (Bordeaux/French ‘wine’ = VIN-) is for young man (lad = -DAL-) upset (= reversal indicator) at getting duck twice (-OO) (VINDALOO) in Indian restaurant (VINDALOO),
15 Something you might get into on the Lido, for instance (on the lido/ beach get into SWIMMING COSTUME), covering up one of those doing a few strokes perhaps (SWIMMING COSTUME),
18 First Test (TRIAL RUN) will give you an indication how good the player is (TRIAL) at clear out (clear out = RUN) (TRIAL RUN),
20 Stir up (stir up = PURIST) panic (= anagram indicator) – the traditional type that’s uncompromising (PURIST),
22 Knocking the stuffing out of (DISHEARTEN) the sardine (the sardine = DISHEARTEN) dish (= anagram indicator),
24 You’ll need 15 across going here (‘swimming costume’ needed in POOL) with Kitty (POOL),
25 Note (music note B-) on German wine (Riesling) lacks energy (e) (‘Riesling’ without ‘e’= -RISLING) (BRISLING) and is a little fishy (BRISLING),
26 Use an (use an = NAUSE-) allocation (= anagram indicator) from America (-A) (NAUSEA) in disgust (NAUSEA).
Down:
1 Eased off headwaiters (‘eased’ off ‘headwaiters’ = hwaitr = WRAITH) with spirit (WRAITH),
2 Get overseas (SWIM) phone card (SIM card = S-IM) containing tungsten (tungsten symbol = -W-) (SWIM),
3 Starts grilling langoustines dipped (starts ‘Grilling Langoustines Dipped’ = GL-D-) in some garlic mayonnaise (aioli = -A-ILOI) (GLADIOLI) for relatives of Iris (GLADIOLI),
4 Lures away from lecherous (‘lures’ away from ‘lecherous’ = echo = ECHO) type of feedback (ECHO),
5 Relative of Daisy’s (ASTER-) not the first (‘not’ the first = -N) (ASTERN) back from the navy? (ASTERN),
6 Turns up (= reversal indicator) dirt (mud = DUM-) on bachelor (-B-) taking orders (-WAITER) (DUMBWAITER) from one employed in kitchen lifting the food (DUMBWAITER),
7 Ms Monroe (Ms Monroe = MEN’S ROOM) dances (= anagram indicator) for all the gents (MEN’S ROOM),
13 Offer condolences (SYMPATHISE) to poor (=anagram indicator) Amish types (Amish types = SYMPATHISE),
14 Sample of festive ganache (sample of ‘festiVE GANache’ = VEGAN) for one on a strict diet (VEGAN),
16 They can’t sleep during the night (WORRIERS) work (W-) fixing (=anagram indicator) errors (errors = -ORR-ERS) around institute (-I-) (WORRIERS),
17 Not (not = O-NT) wrong (= anagram indicator) about father (parish priest = -PP-) with single (-ONE-) (OPPONENT) rival in Ring (rival in ring = OPPONENT),
19 Radio (radio = ROADI-) wave (= anagram indicator) is key (music key -E) (ROADIE) to setting up a musical band (ROADIE),
21 Ram (ram/push = SHOVE-) lost (-L) (SHOVEL) and found on the beach (SHOVEL),
23 They’re used to test the waters (TOGS) like in 15 across (‘swimming costume’ = TOGS),
24 Serve drinks (POUR) on the banks of Port Arthur (on the banks of ‘POrt ArthUR’ = POUR).