In the present research paper, propagation attributes of nonlinear electron-acoustic (EA) waves have been investigated in an unmagnetised plasma system consisting of cool fluid electrons and hot electrons observing the hybrid Cairns–Tsallis distribution. Sagdeev pseudopotential method has been used to explore the occurrence of large-amplitude solitons and double layers, focussing on how their characteristics depend upon different parameters. The analysis is further extended to examine the dynamics of large- and small-amplitude double layers. It is revealed that the present plasma system supports the existence of negative potential solitons and double layers in certain region of parameter space. The numerical results show that the Cairns–Tsallis-distributed hot electrons may affect the spatial profiles of EA waves and double layers. The present investigation may be relevant to the observation from Viking satellite in the dayside auroral zone.