Western news chief given new cracking accommodation for events before receptions? (8)
I believe the answer is:
weddings
'events before receptions?' is the definition.
(a wedding might be followed by a reception)
'western news chief given new cracking accommodation' is the wordplay.
'western' becomes 'w'.
'news chief' becomes 'ed' (I've seen this in other clues).
'given new cracking accommodation' becomes 'dings' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'w'+'ed'+'dings'='WEDDINGS'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for weddings that I've seen before include "Nuptial ceremonies" , "Marriages" , "Marriage ceremonies" , "Matches" .)