What occupies a scoundrel in pub? (8)
I believe the answer is:
alehouse
'pub?' is the definition.
(alehouse is a kind of pub)
'what occupies a scoundrel' is the wordplay.
'what' becomes 'eh' (sound used to ask 'what?' or 'pardon?').
'occupies' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters occupy or enter the word).
'scoundrel' becomes 'louse' (I've seen this in another clue).
'a'+'louse'='alouse'
'eh' put within 'alouse' is 'ALEHOUSE'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for alehouse that I've seen before include "Old pub" , "drinks here?" , "Hostelry (of old)" , "the nineteenth?" , "old tavern" .)