Chef Justin North to helm Mister Percy wine and pinchos bar at Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour

Hong Kong-born hotelier Girish Jhunjhnuwala​ has been on the expansion trail in Australia, snapping up properties from Woolloomooloo to Canberra, now he's lured chef Justin North and sommelier Chris Morrison to work on his latest Sydney food and wine venture.

Jhunjhnuwala, who recently opened US chef Matthew Kenney's plant-based Alibi in his Ovolo hotel in Woolloomooloo, has drafted North and Morrison to help launch the upmarket Mister Percy wine bar in late July at Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour.

"It's the first wine bar I've ever done. Chris [Morrison] is doing the wine list and Luchetti Krelle is looking after the design," North says.

The fine-dining chef turned restaurant consultant is working with Mister Percy head chef Luca Guiotto on a pinchos-heavy menu.

They are also fine-tuning a tart made with Port Lincoln sardine and black olives, and another dish pairing octopus, chorizo and pickled green chilli.

North says he has been inspired by many venues around the world, including the bars of San Sebastian.

"It's named after Percy Ewart, the old dude who used to grade wool when it was a wool store. He's engraved his name [into one of the sandstone blocks]," he adds.