its a grey area as depending on your council even “private” events can require licenses due to some obscure amendmment passed in 1989 to prevent the old “acid house” parties.
An actual private party like a birthday party with about 100-200 people in a building/area for which you have permission and which doesn’t annoy anyone else may be left alone.
OTOH if just one neighbour whinges the EHOs and cops can be really harsh in some areas. Round where a few of us in East Anglia live a bloke having a “mini-rave” in his own house to celebrate his recovery from a very nasty cancer was busted by EHO backed up by 15 cops because neighbours complained :rant:
the cops are also getting wise to the trick of blagging a public rave as a “birthday party”. You can however get these things called TENS (temporary event licenses) which cost about £21 and make the event totally legal (but cops and council both have to agree it is OK). Check your local councils website for more details on how to apply for one.
