ACROSS
 1. (REPEAT MANGO)* = POMEGRANATE <another fruit>
 7. MU D_ = MUD <slander>
 9. (.o)NATION ALTHEA TRE(a.) = NATIONAL THEATRE <playhouse>
10. →"BALL TOY"← = TALLBOY <chest of drawers>
11. CHURRS outside O = CHURROS <fried dough sticks>
12. IN ←EID← = INDIE <not mainstream>
14. APPLET ART = APPLE TART <course>
17. ←WESLE[-y]← HERE = ELSEWHERE <to a different location>
19. C_R_E _P _E_ = CREPE <French dish>
20. <claimed> AVERRED = AV ERRED
22. I_ S_ R_ A_ F_ E_ L_ = ISRAFEL <Poe poem>
24. £*CHANTS*£ = CATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN <wrestling>
25. <sailor> TAR = TAR[-e]
26. (DRAG BEER)* after GIN = GINGERBREAD <spiced cake>

DOWN
 1. ←SNIP← TRIPE = PINSTRIPE <fabric>
 2. MOTE L = MOTEL <lodgings>
 3. (OBEY GOD)* = GOODBYE <so long>
 4. ←(.r)ETARY NATA(l.)← = AT ANY RATE <regardless>
 5. <old American> AZTEC = AZ + TEC
 6. EXE CUT + _E = EXECUTE <implement>
 7. <group of vehicles> MOTORCADE = MODE outside T_ ORCA
 8. U out of DURESS = DRESS <clothing>
13. <nonconformist> DISSENTER = D_ ISS ENTER
15. I_ C_ inside PREDATE = PREDICATE <part of sentence>
16. T_ REED outside ←NILE← = TREE-LINED <with some greenery>
18. <African beast> WARTHOG = WAR GOTH*
19. COR NOB outside C = CORNCOB <bit of maize>
20. [-m]ASCOT = ASCOT <racecourse>
21. ←YD← + SON = DYSON <this sucks>