Across:
8 Switch (CHANGE) opening most of 15 across (opening most of ‘changes one’s mind’ = CHANGE),
9 It’s not easy to learn (HARD-) craft (-SHIP) (HARDSHIP) in Dire Straits (HARDSHIP),
10 Heads energetically towards corner hoping (heads ‘Energetically Towards Corner Hoping’ = ETCH) to score (ETCH),
11 Asian flower (flower/river INDUS-) samples (-TRIES) (INDUSTRIES) derived from those doing their business around the estate (INDUSTRIES),
12 Handpicked (CHOSEN) top, cords (top of ‘Cords’ = C-), stockings (-HOSE-) and denim from The Centre (‘deNim’ from the centre = -N) (CHOSEN),
14 Bulldoze (shove/barge = BAR-GE) over summits of outstanding natural area (summits of ‘Outstanding Natural Area’ = -ONA-) (BARONAGE) – how is that noble? (BARONAGE),
15 Revises decisions (CHANGES ONE’S MIND) by individuals (ones = ONE’S) after (= position indicator) converts (CHANGES) find 24 across (‘mind’ = MIND) (CHANGES ONE’S MIND),
18 Range (SPECTRUM) of mushrooms (ceps) served up (= reversal indicator) (ceps = SPEC-) for tea (-T-) from the bar menu (-RUM) (SPECTRUM),
20 Slow type (TURTLE) comes out of his shell every so often (TURTLE),
22 Charlie (C-) joins Frank (-OPEN-) and a party of women (-H-EN- party) welcoming head barman (Attorney General = -AG-) (COPENHAGEN) from European city (COPENHAGEN),
24 Pay attention (MIND) on the banks of the Mississippi Sound (on the banks of the ‘MIssissippi souND’ = MIND),
25 Council (synod) holds up (= reverse indicator) (synod = D-ONYS-) one (-I-) going to America (-US) (DIONYSUS) – a godly figure inspiring creativity in music and poetry (DIONYSUS),
26 Removes all traces of (ERASES) mill from Marseilles (‘mill’ from ‘Marseilles’ = arsees = ERASES).
Down:
1 Time (T-) for brew (-HATCH) (THATCH) and it’s on the house (THATCH),
2 Amidst porcelain china (contents of “porcelaIN CHina” = INCH) produced by the smallest town in Wexford? (INCH),
3 Refuse to obey (DEFIANCE) prospective partner (fiancé = -FIANCE) after (= position indicator) short (n) study (den) (‘den’ without ‘n’= DE-) (DEFIANCE),
4 Sides of chef’s salad (sides of ‘CHef’s salAD’ = CHAD) produced by Libyan neighbour (CHAD),
5 Cleans up the childish mistakes (ERASER) of royal (-R-) in new (= anagram indicator) saree (saree = E-ASER) (ERASER),
6 One of those looking up (ASTRONOMER) woman who knows where to find all the stars (ASTRONOMER),
7 Commissioned (HIRED) piece (GUN) (HIRED GUN) by one giving it their best shot? (HIRED GUN),
13 Paper (SUN-) on Partition (-SCREEN-) by Old Bob (‘old bob = shilling = -S) (SUNSCREENS) presumably saved many a skin (SUNSCREENS),
14 Get on well (BLOOM) lost (-L-) in time of prosperity (boom = B-OOM) (BLOOM),
16 It’s mesmerising (HYPNOTIC) to pinch toy (pinch toy) train (= anagram indicator) (pinch toy = HYPNOTIC),
17 Reached out to (EXTENDED) old partner (EX-), sore (tender) for the most part (r) (‘tender’ without ‘r’ = -TENDE-), with director (-D) (EXTENDED),
19 Cover old ground (REHASH) in the forest (-ASH) following (= position indicator) that woman (her) back (= reverse indicator) (her = REH-) (REHASH),
21 Networked (LINKED) with popular (liked = LI-KED) Pole (North = -N-) inside (LINKED),
23 My (My! = GOSH) green light (GO-) with ultimate batteries (ultimate ‘batterieS’ = -S-) and terminal switch (terminal ‘switcH’ = -H) (GOSH),
24 Local beef (local beef/whinge = MOAN) from Oman (Oman) butcher (= anagram indicator) (Oman = MOAN).