diff --git a/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/renderer.py b/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/renderer.py
index 4a443ffa7f..12f6439dcf 100644
--- a/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/renderer.py
+++ b/holoviews/plotting/bokeh/renderer.py
@@ -7,19 +7,20 @@
 from bokeh.application import Application
 from bokeh.charts import Chart
 from bokeh.document import Document
-from bokeh.embed import notebook_div
-from bokeh.io import load_notebook, curdoc, show
+from bokeh.embed import notebook_div, autoload_server
+from bokeh.io import load_notebook, curdoc, show as bkshow
 from bokeh.models import (Row, Column, Plot, Model, ToolbarBox,
                           WidgetBox, Div, DataTable, Tabs)
 from bokeh.plotting import Figure
 from bokeh.resources import CDN, INLINE
+from bokeh.server.server import Server
 
 from ...core import Store, HoloMap
 from ..comms import JupyterComm, Comm
 from ..plot import GenericElementPlot
 from ..renderer import Renderer, MIME_TYPES
 from .widgets import BokehScrubberWidget, BokehSelectionWidget, BokehServerWidgets
-from .util import compute_static_patch, serialize_json, attach_periodic
+from .util import compute_static_patch, serialize_json, attach_periodic, bokeh_version
 
 
 
@@ -84,10 +85,24 @@ def __call__(self, obj, fmt=None, doc=None):
         elif fmt == 'json':
             return self.diff(plot), info
 
+
     @bothmethod
-    def get_widget(self_or_cls, plot, widget_type, **kwargs):
+    def get_plot(self_or_cls, obj, doc=None, renderer=None):
+        """
+        Given a HoloViews Viewable return a corresponding plot instance.
+        Allows supplying a document attach the plot to, useful when
+        combining the bokeh model with another plot.
+        """
+        plot = super(BokehRenderer, self_or_cls).get_plot(obj, renderer)
+        if doc is not None:
+            plot.document = doc
+        return plot
+
+
+    @bothmethod
+    def get_widget(self_or_cls, plot, widget_type, doc=None, **kwargs):
         if not isinstance(plot, Plot):
-            plot = self_or_cls.get_plot(plot)
+            plot = self_or_cls.get_plot(plot, doc)
         if self_or_cls.mode == 'server':
             return BokehServerWidgets(plot, renderer=self_or_cls.instance(), **kwargs)
         else:
@@ -95,25 +110,49 @@ def get_widget(self_or_cls, plot, widget_type, **kwargs):
 
 
     @bothmethod
-    def app(self_or_cls, plot, notebook=False):
+    def app(self_or_cls, plot, show=False, new_window=False):
         """
         Creates a bokeh app from a HoloViews object or plot. By
         default simply uses attaches plot to bokeh's curdoc and
-        returns the Document, if notebook option is supplied creates
-        an Application instance, displays it and returns it.
+        returns the Document, if show option is supplied creates
+        an Application instance and displays it either in a browser
+        window or inline if notebook extension has been loaded.
+        Using the new_window option the app may be displayed in a
+        new browser tab once the notebook extension has been loaded.
         """
         renderer = self_or_cls.instance(mode='server')
-        if not notebook:
+        # If show=False and not in noteboook context return document
+        if not show and not self_or_cls.notebook_context:
             doc, _ = renderer(plot)
             return doc
 
         def modify_doc(doc):
             renderer(plot, doc=doc)
-
         handler = FunctionHandler(modify_doc)
         app = Application(handler)
-        show(app)
-        return app
+
+        if not show:
+            # If not showing and in notebook context return app
+            return app
+        elif self_or_cls.notebook_context and not new_window:
+            # If in notebook, show=True and no new window requested
+            # display app inline
+            return bkshow(app)
+
+        # If app shown outside notebook or new_window requested
+        # start server and open in new browser tab
+        from tornado.ioloop import IOLoop
+        loop = IOLoop.current()
+        server = Server({'/': app}, port=0, loop=loop)
+        def show_callback():
+            server.show('/')
+        server.io_loop.add_callback(show_callback)
+        server.start()
+        try:
+            loop.start()
+        except RuntimeError:
+            pass
+        return server
 
 
     def server_doc(self, plot, doc=None):
@@ -156,6 +195,7 @@ def diff(self, plot, serialize=True):
         processed = self._apply_post_render_hooks(patch, plot, 'json')
         return serialize_json(processed) if serialize else processed
 
+
     @classmethod
     def plot_options(cls, obj, percent_size):
         """
@@ -217,4 +257,5 @@ def load_nb(cls, inline=True):
         """
         Loads the bokeh notebook resources.
         """
-        load_notebook(hide_banner=True, resources=INLINE if inline else CDN)
+        kwargs = {'notebook_type': 'jupyter'} if bokeh_version > '0.12.5' else {}
+        load_notebook(hide_banner=True, resources=INLINE if inline else CDN, **kwargs)