West End theatres enjoyed a record year in 2004, according to figures released today.

The Society of London Theatre said box office takings at 52 central London theatres were at their highest since records began in the 1980s, and 6% up on 2003.

The number of tickets sold was also up, at just under 12m, or 3% more than the previous year. The figure was the second highest on record.

The Society of London Theatre was keen to stress that the figures showed the robust health of the West End, after relations between the industry and the critics became strained last autumn. A string of disastrously short runs, from Murderous Instincts (three weeks) to Oscar Wilde (two nights) led the theatres to question the value of the press night.

Richard Pulford, the society's chief executive, said: "This is an excellent set of figures underlining the West End's position as the vibrant entertainment hub of London. The figures confound speculative press stories about declining audiences that appeared during the year. With a 3% rise in audiences and a 6% rise in income, they also indicate that ticket prices on average rose by no more than inflation."

Pulford went on to insist that successful shows - such as Mary Poppins and The Producers - more than made up for the failures. "In the nature of things, there will always be individual shows that fare less well than others. But, taken all in all, London theatre production is in good health. I am delighted to be able to demonstrate that reports of its decline have no substance."