Jay Glass (born 1986, Edinburgh) is a hospitality operator and brand developer known for creating, revitalising and scaling high-performing venues across the UK.

He entered the industry at an early age, studying music production and studio engineering at Edinburgh College while DJing and organising large-scale club events that attracted thousands of attendees each week. Across his career he has overseen thousands of events featuring internationally recognised artists including Kygo, Bakermat, Sigala, Klingande and much more.

This formative experience in live entertainment, audience psychology and event logistics helped shape the commercial instincts that continue to inform his approach today.
 

In 2007, Jay joined Eclectic Bars, gaining experience in promotions and venue management before relocating to Reading in 2010 to oversee high-volume nightlife operations at Sakura, a Japanese-inspired lounge and nightclub. He was subsequently headhunted by Novus Leisure in London, where he managed major late-night venues including Tiger Tiger Haymarket and other flagship sites across the City.
 

Returning to Edinburgh in 2012, Jay joined Caledonian Heritable to lead the full rebrand and refurbishment of Why Not Nightclub. Under his leadership, the venue’s profitability increased by nearly 700%, establishing it as one of Scotland’s most successful nightlife destinations and earning multiple national awards, including several “Scotland’s Nightclub of the Year” titles, performance he continues to oversee today. He also remains closely involved in the ongoing success of The Dome, where a programme of revitalisation and operational refinement has helped more than double profitability while preserving its position as one of Edinburgh’s most iconic venues.
 

Alongside operating established businesses, Jay has developed original concepts from the ground up, most notably Rose Street Garden, a seasonal street food and cocktail destination and Encore Edinburgh, an intimate 1920s-inspired speakeasy.
 

Jay’s work centres on building distinctive hospitality businesses that combine strong commercial performance with memorable guest experiences. His approach integrates brand development, operational discipline and team leadership to create venues that are both profitable and resilient over the long term.

Outside day-to-day operations, he maintains an active interest in AI and emerging technologies, and has developed practical internal systems to support people management, strategy, cost control and collaboration across venues, continually exploring new ways to improve efficiency, visibility and customer experience within hospitality environments.