Just Open: Grocery and Grog at the Henson

In addition to being the spiritual home for a schooner after a Newtown Jets win and one of the few pubs rocking ramen on its menu, the Henson now has its own bottle shop and deli.

Grocery and Grog has been a long term goal of the Marrickville pub since it reopened about two and half years ago. There were just a few hurdles in obtaining a bottleshop licence to overcome first.

"It's been the last piece of the puzzle for the Henson," says Ashleigh Jacka, manager of Grocery and Grog's booze department. "The labels for our housemade pickles were actually made for two years ago and we've been waiting to use them in the grocery store ever since."

Due to popular local demand, housemade mayo (there's jalapeno and miso varieties) and flavoured salts from the Henson's kitchen are available to take home. There's also ready-to-go cheeses ranging from feta and haloumi to Brillat-Savarin, Fromager d'Affinois​ and Holy Goat Brigid's Well, a healthy selection of smoked and cured meats including duck prosciutto and double-smoked maple leg-ham, and fresh organic fruit and veg.

The wine is a mix of minimal-intervention organic drops and more familiar labels while the beer fridge is stocked with tinnies and bottles from local craft brewers.

A pub deli could be dangerous thing after a couple of jugs, especially if you're prone to a spot of cheese binging. If that's you, it might be worth entrusting your credit card with the designated dairy-free driver next time you visit the Henson.

91 Illawarra Road Marrickville, 02 9569 5858, 11am-10pm daily