The total visitors to the Stockport shopping centre was a 5 per cent rise on 2011, while the December figure represented the first time the shopping centre exceeded one million visitors for the month.
Visitor numbers were boosted by events including the Christmas lights switch on by pop group Steps and former X Factor winner Matt Cardle.
Jacqueline O’Shea, head of management at GVA in Manchester which Merseyway’s is managing agent, said: “To achieve record visitor numbers in such a challenging environment for retailers is an outstanding achievement and testimony to the diverse and popular retail offering of Merseyway.
“Despite the testing economic conditions persisting in 2013, we look forward to repeating this success with further special events designed to attract yet more visitors.”