Séan Nicholas and his wife Michelle purchased Annie's Bar at 5 Strabane Old Road in Derry's Top of the Hill last September. They leased the premises for two years prior to the purchase. The pub, formerly known as Top of the Hill Bar, was renamed in honour of Annie Breslin, who managed it for decades until her retirement.

Annie Breslin, born in Drumfries in 1907, worked in pubs including the Hong Bar in Market Street before taking over Top of the Hill with her sister Nora and Nora's husband Joe O’Connor. She lived alone at the premises after Nora bought a pub on Foyle Street. Breslin ran the bar alone for years and enforced rules such as ejecting those who cursed and sending men home on Fridays to ensure their families had food.

Breslin witnessed a shooting at the bar on December 20, 1972, when gunmen killed five customers: Charles Moore, Frank McCarron, Michael McGinley, Barney Kelly and Charlie McCafferty. She called police and a priest that night. Photographs and memorials to the victims remain in the pub today. Breslin retired after the incident, lived in Altnagelvin and Shantallow, and died on December 19, 1988.

Her niece Carmel Faulkner, born at the bar in 1948, and nephew Seán McLaughlin, aged 82, shared details of Breslin's life. Breslin spent time in Boston in the US with her sister Mary before returning for their brother Michael's ordination to the priesthood. She helped raise Faulkner's siblings in Drumfries after their mother's death in 1956.

Nicholas started a weekly traditional music session at the pub last year with musicians from the North West Folk Collective, including Seán McLaughlin. The session runs Thursdays from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. The pub also hosts a Tuesday quiz led by Dermot Liddy, music on weekends, and a Saturday pool competition.

Nicholas, raised in Top of the Hill, noted his parents Tommy and Lily Nicholas were regulars at the bar for decades. The pub is staffed by Nicholas, his wife, their children Caitlin, Tomás and Cíarraí, and local employees Paula, Paul, Emma-Lee, Chris and Tiarnan.