This year’s Brighton Fringe was officially the biggest to date – with attendances up nearly a third on 2012’s record.

Some 270,000 art lovers flooded the city betweenMay 4 and June 2 spending an estimated £1.5million on tickets alone.

Atotal of 734 shows were on offer with some 3,654 performances across 185 venues.

Organisers have also heralded the benefits to local businesses with an estimated sixfigure increase in spend in pubs, restaurants and hotels across the four weeks.

Julian Caddy, managing director, said: “2013 has been decisive year in the development of Brighton Fringe as it continues to make an impact on the artistic landscape of the city and the country as a whole.

“But there is no point being a large festival unless you’re also a great festival.”

The event scooped 11 of the prestigious Argus Angels as well as ten of the 15 Latest Festival Awards on offer.

Original writing was also recognised with the theatre piece Gather Ye Rosebuds wining the New Writing South’s Best New Play and Chapel Street the Emerging Talent Award.

The event, which prides itself on its accessibility, had some 176 free events this year with the average ticket price just £9.

One of the most talked about performances of the month was the record breaking Kate Bush Experience.

The final weekend of the Fringe sawhundreds of lookalikes gather in Stanmer Park to re-enact the singer’s hit Wuthering Heights.

There was also the return of the Spiegeltent which housed hit cabaret group La Clique.

After an absence of seven years, the world-famous venue returned to the Old Steine and enjoyed sell-outs nearly every night.

Among the other favourites was contemporary theatre group, NoFit State Circus, who pitched up on Hove Lawns, and Van Buren and Gandey’s Victorian Wonders Carnival in Victoria Gardens.

The weekly Fringe City event in New Road was also deemed a success with an estimated 45,000 people over the month.

Mr Caddy added that the annual event was now regarded as a staple in the arts calendar for performers around the world.

He said: “Whether it be through the development of newwork or the showcasing of world class national and international performance, Brighton Fringe has become the destination to discover it. See you in 2014.”

Registration for next year’s event begins in October.

For more information go to their website.