The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word COTERIE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
O
T
E
R
I
E
More clues leading to the result COTERIE
- Exclusive group from lake bed shown first
- Circle lake after a place to sleep
- Exclusive group with somewhere to sleep north of lake
- Set small dwelling beside one Great Lake
- Exclusive group takes old cottage on Great Lake
- Camp where one may sleep by lake
- Bed Brenda? That is a secretive association
- Camp bed set above a lake
- Circle lake bed first
- Set books leading to anger rising in church
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "inner circle" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case inner circle = coterie.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does COTERIE mean?
COTERIE noun- A circle of people who associate with one another.
- An exclusive group of people, who associate closely for a common purpose.
- A communal burrow of prairie dogs.