Gender reveal party descends into 'mayhem' as cops called to banish huge crowds
Residents in a usually quiet cul-de-sac on Falcon Close in Rochdale were left stunned after an Airbnb rented out for the party turned into "mayhem" when up to 200 youngsters arrived
A gender reveal party for just eight people descended into "absolute chaos" after police were called to disperse huge crowds. Residents in a normally quiet cul-de-sac on Falcon Close in Rochdale were left stunned after an Airbnb rented out for the party turned into "mayhem" when up to 200 youngsters arrived.
Locals said officers arrived in tactical aid unit vans and took two hours to get them all to leave. Residents said they initially suspected it was an "after party" following a prom for school leavers. A man who identified himself as the owner of the property involved, said it was a gender reveal booking for just eight people.
"They looked in their 20s to me," one resident of Falcon Close said. "It was their presence that became quite threatening really. It was absolute mayhem."
"It was very, very scary when I looked out of the window last night," another resident said. "It took the police two hours to clear them out."
A Golf GTI later crashed into the front of a house on nearby Edenfield Road, although it is not known whether the incident is linked to the party. Greater Manchester Police has refused to comment.
The Airbnb, which has five bedrooms, a pool table and a hot tub, was first offered for rent in October. A picture, obtained by the Manchester Evening News, appears to show the size of the gathering, amid speculation that word spread via social media.
The owner, who didn't give his full name, said the incident on Wednesday evening had 'cast a bit of a shadow' on the property, but promised to prevent anything similar happening there again. He said: "We got up there as quickly as we could and got it shut down with the police."
Other residents, however, have complained of past problems with Airbnb renters on the street, saying they had behaved in an 'uncaring' way resulting in 'ill feeling' on the road.
"There are quite a few elderly people around here," added one. "Usually, it's a very quiet cul-de-sac, we all stick together and look after each other."
Another resident, posting on a local Facebook page, called what happened 'horrendous'. They said: "Complete disregard for people living on Falcon Close - young families and elderly people. Totally unacceptable. This Airbnb needs to be shut down. It's not right to expect local families to tolerate this."
Listed on Airbnb, the property is called Falcon House and can be rented for between £350 and £750 per night, depending on the day of the week. No further details have been revealed.