Liverpool's Albert Dock complex has seen a surge in visitor numbers for the fourth year in a row.

Around 5.8m people visited the attraction on the city’s waterfront in 2013 – a rise of more than 5% on the 2012 figure of 5.5m.

Visitor numbers have been rising steadily since 2010 when 5.1m people flocked to the site. This rose to 5.3m in 2011.

Last year the Albert Dock was celebrating 25 years since the Grade I-listed complex was regenerated and reopened to the public.

Highlights of the year included a birthday weekend celebration in the summer, the return of ITV’s This Morning, which broadcast live from its original home at the dock, and the arrival of three new businesses – The Smugglers Cove restaurant and bar, Docklands Fish & Chips and coffee shop chain, Rubens.

It was also the year that Albert Dock owner Arrowcroft launched its new Dockside office concept, offering prospective tenants restyled office space located within the Colonnades.

Also during 2013, personal injury law firm Hampson Hughes acquired the Edward Pavilion building in the summer, moving in all 270 of its staff.

Peter Cronin, director of development and marketing for Albert Dock Liverpool, told ECHO Business: “This is extremely positive news for Albert Dock Liverpool – and an encouraging way to start 2014.

“Albert Dock is a remarkable venue with its culture and strong maritime history, but the strong figures demonstrate that we have such a unique offer which can attract high footfall.”

In the years following its reopening in 1988, attempts were made to turn it into a retail destination with disappointing results.

In later years it has been refocused as a leisure destination, featuring bars, restaurants, galleries and museums.

Jeremy Roberts, chairman of the Albert Dock Tenants Business Association, said: “This is excellent news for the tenants, who work tirelessly to ensure that visitors and residents of Albert Dock have the very best experience in the venues.”