Spain's largest tapas restaurant operator, Lizarran, plans to launch in the UK next year.
The group is in discussions with a UK master franchise partner to open its first outlet in London and then expand to up to 20 sites across the country in the next five to 10 years.
Lizarran already has 145 units across Europe, with sales for the year 2004-05 expected to register g67.5m (£45.9m)
The Lizarran Tabernas Selectas franchise company was set up in 1996 and has franchises in Spain, Andorra, Portugal, Germany and Italy. Another 46 are expected to open later this year, 13 of them outside Spain.
The restaurants offer fast-food "pinchos" (bar snacks) alongside more classic Spanish tapas and drinks.