Jay Glass, born in Edinburgh in 1986, left school at 16 to study music production and studio engineering at Edinburgh College. During those formative years, he set up and maintained several under-18s club nights that drew thousands of attendees each week, booking several high profile DJs and live performers. Although his main passion lay in DJing and live events, he also produced a track from scratch featuring Scottish artist Flo titled “Move,” which earned airtime on BBC Radio 1Xtra thanks to a friend R&B legend DJ Ronnie Herel.
In 2007, Jay joined Eclectic Bars, gaining valuable experience as a deputy and promotions manager. He relocated from Edinburgh to Reading in 2010 to oversee high-volume nightlife operations at Sakura a Japanese-inspired lounge and nightclub where he forged key industry connections. A year later, he was headhunted by Novus Leisure in London and went on to manage large-scale operations at Tiger Tiger (Haymarket) and other late-night venues across the City of London.
Upon returning home to Edinburgh in 2012, Jay embraced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Caledonian Heritable, heading up the full rebrand and refurbishment of Why Not Nightclub. From 2012 onward, Why Not amassed 11 national awards, including multiple “Scotland’s Nightclub of the Year” accolades. Jay credits this success to the dedicated staff and promoters who helped bring the vision to life.
In addition to developing award-winning venues, Jay has hosted thousands of live events over the years including shows with globally renowned artists such as Kygo, Bakermat, and Klingande. He has also pioneered notable concepts in Edinburgh, including Rose Street Garden, a seasonal street food and cocktail oasis, and Encore Edinburgh, a refined 1920s-style speakeasy.
Fueled by a passion for blending operational excellence with inventive branding and entertainment, Jay continues to elevate nightlife experiences through each new venture. A self-taught photographer, designer and marketing professional he consistently seeks fresh ways to ensure every project resonates with its audience and leaves a lasting impression.