Cryptic crossword clue
Modernise old pub at first — tea breaks after five 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word INNOVATE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
I
N
N
O
V
A
T
E


Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Modernise" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case modernise = innovate.
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 INNOVATE mean?

INNOVATE verb
  1. To alter, to change into something new; to revolutionize.
  2. To introduce something new to a particular environment; to do something new.
  3. To introduce (something) as new.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations