Original sentence: Following a series of transformational acquisitions, including large estate acquisitions of former Whitbread pubs from Laurel Pub Company in 2002 and the acquisition of the Unique Pub Company, by 2004, they had an estate of nearly 9,000 pubs spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales, including a number of locally famous restaurants and pubs like The Townhouse in Solihull, The Lock Stock & barrel in Halifax, the Poet's Corner in Cardiff and The Compass Rose in Portsmouth
Edited sentence: Following a series of transformational acquisitions, including large estate acquisitions of former Whitbread pubs from Laurel Pub Company in 2002 and the acquisition of the Unique Pub Company