LONDON — The United Kingdom eased coronavirus lockdown measures on Monday, allowing non-essential retail shops and restaurants to partially reopen. The move comes as the UK prepares to chart a course to return to a normal life. As part of the move, restaurants and pubs can now serve customers outside despite forecasts of wintry temperatures, bringing some cheer to the hard-hit hospitality industry after repeated closures. Also able to reopen are barbers and hairdressers, where demand is high for long overdue trims more than three months after the latest stay-at-home order was imposed. A surge of shoppers is expected at stores in the non-essential retail sector as outlets try to recoup heavy COVID-19 losses. Indoor gyms, swimming pools, libraries and zoos have also been given the go-ahead to open their doors, as have self-catering domestic holidays, where bookings have soared. Mosques were also preparing for the start of Ramadan, a year after the Muslim holy month was observed without traditional community gatherings. The resumption of Ramadan prayers, even with some social distancing measures, could give worshipers a renewed optimism, said the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Zara Mohammed. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the easing of restrictions a major step forward in our roadmap to freedom. I'm sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it's a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed. — Agencies